Bloomington – The Indiana State Police 2017 “Trooper of the Year” Award was selected by the Command Staff from the Bloomington Post. Factors used to determine the award included, but were not limited to, traffic and criminal enforcement, community involvement, public service and specialty assignments such as ISP Specialty Teams, Instructor ratings, or other services performed for the department that go beyond normal expectations.
The Trooper who achieved outstanding efforts for 2017 in those areas and who exemplified the character expected of an Indiana State Trooper was Trooper Richard Klun.
Trooper Klun graduated from the ISP Academy in March of 2011 and was assigned the Bloomington Post to primarily work Greene County. Klun was a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon (TIP) from 2011-2016 and remains a DEA certified Clandestine Laboratory Identification and Cleanup Officer. Trooper Klun has also served as a Field Training Officer since 2014 and has had a hand in training the last 5 ISP Recruit School Classes. Richard has also been a Child First Forensic Interviewer since 2014, a K9 Handler since July 2015 and a member of the Bloomington ACES (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Action) Team since 2016.
Klun was also the 2014 Bloomington District Trooper of the Year.
Prior to becoming an Indiana State Trooper, Trooper Klun served in the Marine Corps from December 2004 until separating as a Sergeant in October 2009. He conducted 3 Combat Tours overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. During his tours overseas, Klun was assigned to the Police Transition Team (PiTT) and the Military Transitioning Team, (MiTT) both responsible for training Iraqi Civilians into either Military Members or Iraqi Police Officers. Klun also served as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Team Member, Corporal of the Guard (COG) and later Sergeant of the Guard (SOG). As SOG, Klun was one of the command staff that was directly responsible for the safety of Camp Habaniyah, (Iraq) which housed over 3000 US Military members and over 1000 PiTT & MiTT members.
During his military career, Klun was the recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on two occasions.
Trooper Klun resides in Greene County with his wife and two daughters.
