Cash honored posthumously as Police Officer of the Year

The Bloomington Northside Exchange Club honored Keith Cash, chief officer and 29-year veteran of the IU Police Department, on May 15 as 2013 Police Officer of the Year.

Cash was born in Jeffersonville, Ind. to parents Tom and Judy Cash. An IU graduate, Cash earned both his undergraduate and masters degrees in criminal justice. He began his career as a cadet in 1984, eventually earning the title of department chief in 2010. In 2004, Cash graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

Keith Cash died of natural causes Wednesday, March 20 at the IU Health Bloomington Hospital just three days before he would have celebrated his 51st birthday.

"He gave a lot of classes to students on the campus, volunteered a lot of his time," said Merv Meister, a member of the Bloomington Northside National Exchange.

Cash served on several boards and committees at IU and often met with students, in groups and individually, to improve campus safety. He was the recipient of the Trevor R. Brown Award in 2011 for his support of the First Amendment, particularly in student media. He also started the IUPD K-9 program, which utilizes the keen senses of dogs for police work.

“He was invited to our meetings, and he always showed up,” Meister said. “He was highly valued in the community.”

Cash is survived by his mother, Judy; father, Tom; brother Mike; and brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Nancy Cash.

Cash is the 53rd winner of the award. He was nominated by IUPD Interim Chief Laury Flint.