Columbus Police Department Deputy Chief Steve Norman
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Police say a member of the Columbus Police Department’s command staff had exited his vehicle and was standing on a ramp from I-70 to the Sam Jones Expressway Tuesday afternoon when he was sideswiped and struck by a pickup truck.
State police public information officer John Perrine said Steve Norman, deputy chief of police for the Columbus Police Department, had gotten out of his personal vehicle on the ramp for an unknown reason when he was hit by the pickup. There was no one with Norman when the accident occurred, according to the state police.
Norman is listed in fair condition at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, hospital officials said.
Norman’s wife, Janae, said in a text message to be shared with The Republic that “we are extremely grateful for the love and support that everyone has given us thus far. Also that we appreciate the prayers for Steve and our family.”
The accident location was about three miles west of downtown Indianapolis, near the old Indianapolis airport.
The pickup driver stopped at the scene and it was determined he was not impaired in any way prior to the collision, state police said.
The Indiana State Police are doing a full reconstruction on the accident as part of the investigation, Perrine said.
Columbus police said Wednesday that Norman was off-duty and was not driving a CPD vehicle, and was not working in a law enforcement capacity, when the accident occurred.
Norman was named deputy chief in January 2020 by Columbus Police Chief Michael Richardson, promoted from the rank of captain.
He is a 27-year veteran of the department, working his way up the ranks as a patrol officer, a member of the CPD SWAT team, narcotics detective, public relations officer, uniform sergeant, uniform lieutenant and uniform captain. He is a graduate of Ball State University with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice.
