Slain officer's son says mother was 'most amazing person'

Shortly after the start of Wednesday's funeral for slain Indianapolis police officer Kimberlee Carmack, a letter from her son was read describing her as the "most amazing person" he has ever known.

The day's tributes ended with Police Chief Rick Hite presenting Dustin Carmack with the folded American flag that had covered his mother's golden brown casket.

In between were fond memories shared and a procession through the city to honor the 20-year Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department veteran.

"My mom is the most amazing person I've ever known. ... I feel blessed that God chose me to be her son," Dustin Carmack, also an IMPD officer, wrote in the brief letter that was read during the funeral at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral on Meridian Street. "I'm thankful I ended every conversation with 'I love you' or 'I love you, too.' I will always love you, Mom."

Roughly 300 people gathered at the cathedral to pay their respects. IMPD officers, most of them in uniforms, filled one side of the aisle. Mayor Greg Ballard, Public Safety Director Troy Riggs, Hite and Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry sat in the front row.

Robin Alexander, one of Kim Carmack's best friends, recalled the time when Carmack wore a white T-shirt with the word "Princess" printed on it. That day, Carmack told Alexander that she should start calling her "Princess" from then on. The crowd laughed.

"I love you, Princess," Alexander said, looking toward the casket.

Her friends said Carmack always tried to help others, whether they were friends, family, co-workers or strangers.

"Whether she's on duty or not and she was in her marked car, she would stop and help," Alexander said. "Kim didn't stop to help because she was a police officer. Kim stopped because she's Kim."

Retired IMPD Lt. Spencer Moore founded Crime Stoppers, with which Carmack began her career as a secretary. He said he remembers sitting in his office in Downtown Indianapolis and hearing Carmack field phone calls and laugh with co-workers.

"Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the beginning of a career you served so well in," Moore said.

Carmack, 45, was killed April 17 at her home on the Far Westside in what investigators are calling a murder-suicide carried out by her ex-husband, IMPD Sgt. Ryan Anders. In a petition for a personal protection order, Carmack had said she feared for her life.

The two had been at the center of an internal domestic-violence investigation by IMPD that began March 12. The Marion County prosecutor's office had been investigating Anders and was considering filing stalking charges against the nine-year veteran at the time of the killings.

After the service was a procession through Indianapolis escorted by at least a dozen police cars. It passed by IMPD's Southwest District in Haughville, where Carmack began working as a patrol officer. Her marked car — adorned with pink, red, purple and blue flowers, candles, rosaries and stuffed toys — sat out front.

A sign read, "The neighborhood is taking up a collection for Officer Kim Carmack." On the edges of the sign were handwritten "thank yous" and heart- and star-shaped designs.

Later, at the Heroes of Public Safety section of Crown Hill Cemetery, Carmack received a final tribute as some uniformed police officers carried flags and others, wearing white gloves, saluted. Dustin Carmack was presented with the folded flag. Judith Skinner, his grandmother and Kim Carmack's mother, sat by his side. Pink ribbons were pinned near their chests.

After the services, Sally Jones, a public assistance officer who had worked with Carmack in IMPD's Southwest District for 10 years, said she remembered Carmack's generosity.

"She'd do anything for anybody," Jones said.

Once in a while, she said, Carmack surprised her and others with a box of doughnuts. Other times, Jones said, Carmack brought lunch for employees.

Carmack became a patrol officer for IMPD in 1995 and at one point worked as an undercover vice officer. In 2002, she received a certificate of nomination during IMPD's employee recognition banquet.

In 2010, about three years after Anders joined IMPD, he and Carmack were married. Their divorce was finalized in October.

Carmack was born April 9, 1969, in Cincinnati. Survivors include her son; mother; granddaughter, Ava Carmack; and siblings Andrea Skinner and Guy Vance Roseberry.

Call Star reporter Kristine Guerra at (317) 444-6209. Follow her on Twitter: @kristine_guerra.