A hearse carrying the body of Warsaw Police Capt. Clay Layne pauses outside of the Warsaw Police station where a memorial stands in remembrance to the fallen officer on Monday, Oct. 25. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Clay Layne was many things, including a Warsaw Police officer and an Army National Guardsman.

But, as his daughter, Allison Layne, reminded people at his memorial service, he was also a devoted father of two.

Clay Layne

Family, area leaders and local police turned out for the service at Warsaw Community Church Monday, Oct. 25. Layne, a Warsaw Police Department captain, passed away at age 52 on Tuesday, Oct. 19. That was following an unexpected medical emergency.

Layne received a couple of personal tributes during the service, courtesy of Allison. He and his wife of 29 years, Sandy, also share another daughter, Brooklynn.

Allison played guitar and sang “Travelin’ Soldier” in honor of her father. She also read from a poem she wrote about her father when she was a high school junior.

“It’s kind of just an overview of who he was as a person and how I saw him,” she explained before she started reading.

The poem talked about how Layne’s career had switched from military service to that of a policeman due to relationships back home.

“I am the police officer, the one whose love won over soldier dreams, whose dream had been rewritten and that still pledged to serve the people,” Allison read. “My duties do not fall short, I serve the … drugged and distraught, the lonely, the ignorant and the vulnerable.”

“My passion still burns in my eyes,” she continued. “Yet my passion’s now filled with danger, my career has become a game of chance, once standing proud with my badge in a crowd but now scared to call myself an officer.”

“There are nights I fear for safety, long hours and drug raids,” she read. “My children wonder when I will return to ease their minds from worry. I am the father whose roles never conclude. With the sound of a cry, I am there or with the bang of fallen possessions.”

“I am all of these people yet I am one man. I serve in more ways than one without fear,” she concluded.

Public servant

Nods to Layne’s profession were also present Monday.

WPD Chaplain Layne Sumner referenced how when he was a child, Captain Layne wanted to be a police officer.

WPD Sgt. Ryan Petty, whom Sumner noted “was mentored” by Layne, read Layne’s obituary during the service, which cited his 26-year career with the department.

Petty was one of numerous officers at the church. Police from WPD, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and other area departments showed up to pay their respects. They along with their significant others filled up at least 10 rows in the auditorium.

Before the service started, police who were present had their own special viewing of Layne’s body, filing past it before taking their seats. The WPD was the last to do so.

Fellow officers also took turns standing watch over Layne’s body during the visitation.

During his message, Sumner referenced Romans 13, which talks about obeying leaders. He cited that police officers are “God’s ministers” to help people obey the law, making mention that Layne was one such person.

“He did the work of God’s minister, a servant of God with civil authority who was in the words of Romans 13:4, a public servant who truly worked for our good,” said Sumner. “And that’s not really my opinion, because I’ve seen the comments on social media and I’ve had people just walk up to me as I said earlier and they’ve just spoken specifically of how Clay had gone out of his way to help them at some point in time in their lives.”

Sumner then broke that down by saying Layne was an example of being God’s servant through four elements: calling, character, courage and compassion.

“I’ve spoken very generally about Capt. Clay Layne,” said Sumner. “I know he answered his own call by willingly doing his duty and he was courageous. He didn’t freeze or flee when stuff got real and tough. He had the character to do the right thing even though like all of us sometimes maybe imperfectly. And from a heart of compassion he loved. He loved, a love that acted and gave and sacrificed for those whom he loved. Clay truly was God’s servant for good.”