Police officers are being honored for heroic actions after rescuing two children from a submerged car in northeast Indianapolis on January 13.
Shortly after midnight on Pendleton Way, a vehicle crashed into a retention pond. The children’s father died in the wreck, but the children survived thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers.
About 10 minutes before the crash, an officer had initiated a traffic stop near East 38th Street and North Richardt Avenue for a vehicle that didn’t have a headlight. The car fled before the officer could exit his patrol vehicle, and police did not pursue. Minutes later, the same officer came upon a young boy in the pond, soaked and asking for help. The boy told officers that his younger sister and father were still inside the submerged car.
Officers immediately took action. They pulled the girl and the father from the vehicle and brought them to safety. The children later made a full recovery. The father, identified as 28‑year‑old Dechon Sims, was given CPR by responding officers and taken to a local hospital, but he did not survive.
The IMPD shared body camera footage and photos capturing the dramatic rescue, showing officers diving into the water without hesitation. Officer Erica Eder said she didn’t think twice before getting into the pond to reach the girl. “It was just, ‘We have to get her out,’” she recalled.
In recognition of their bravery, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey awarded three East District officers the Medal of Bravery, one officer received a Life Saving Award, and another was given a Certificate of Commendation. These honors are presented to officers who display exceptional heroism while facing imminent danger, and the department said these officers “exemplified exactly that.”
In follow‑up footage released by the department, the officers are seen reuniting with the children and embracing them, a powerful moment underscoring the life‑saving impact of their actions.
