Versailles, IN – Sgt. Noel W. Houze, Jr. will conclude nearly 30 years of service with the Indiana State Police at the end of October, 2014. Noel followed the footsteps of his father, Noel W. Houze, Sr., who was also a career state police officer.
Noel began his law enforcement career with the Rising Sun Police Department, where he served the local community for two and a half years in the early 1980’s. Noel left Rising Sun P.D. in July, 1984 to attend the 42nd Indiana State Police Recruit Academy and was later appointed as a probationary trooper on November 18, 1984. Upon his graduation from the state police academy he initially worked as a road trooper in Jackson County, which was formerly part of the Seymour District. On March 1, 1987 Noel voluntarily transferred to Ripley County, which is part of the Versailles District.
Noel continued working at the Versailles District and later applied for the position of Squad Sergeant, which he was the successful candidate and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in June of 1994. He continued serving in this capacity until he interviewed to be a Public Information Officer (PIO) Sergeant for the state police. Noel was the successful candidate and transferred to PIO in June of 2006.
In his service as a PIO Sergeant for the state police, Noel became a well known and respected spokesperson for the state police, providing timely and accurate information to media throughout the greater Versailles District.
Over the course of nearly 30 years, Noel was a member of the department’s High Performance Vehicle (HPV) patrol program that initially began in 1988 with unmarked Ford Mustang police vehicles. Noel was one of the original 20 troopers selected to start with the special patrol unit. Noel served as an Emergency Vehicle Operation (EVO) instructor for 22 years as well as being a certified vehicle speed timing device operator of RADAR and VASCAR speed recording equipment. He was a Field Training Officer, training new state police officers and also served with the state police Tactical Intervention Platoon (TIP) which is used for disturbance control.
Noel’s more memorable points of service to the department was as a member of one of the state police Honor Guard teams that render honors at funerals of department members as well as presenting the State’s and Nation’s flags at ceremonial events. Noel was also a member of the Katrina Hurricane response force that travelled to Biloxi, Mississippi as part of Operation Hoosier Relief to augment the Biloxi Police Department in the initial days and weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29th of 2005.
Noel was a 1979 graduate of South Dearborn High School, in Auroa, IN. While a member of the state police Noel attended and graduated from 102nd Session of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute-School of Police Staff and Command in 1996. Noel continued his education at Indiana Wesleyan University and obtained his Bachelor of Science in 2004.
Sgt. Houze’s supervisor from June 2006 through June of 2014, Capt. David Bursten, said, “Sgt. Houze was the consummate professional police officer. He served the citizens of Indiana with professionalism and distinction as well as ensuring the media contacts he interacted with were kept informed about state police investigations.”
While Noel’s career with the Indiana State Police has drawn to a close, beginning on Monday, November 10th he will continue serving the citizens and students of Milan, Indiana as a uniformed School Resource Officer (SRO) with the Milan Community School Corporation.
Noel is married to Susan, his wife of 34 years. They have two grown daughters and four grandchildren. Noel and Susan reside in Milan, IN.
Photo Note: Both photos are of Sgt. Houze. The photo with Sergeant stripes was taken in 2010. The other photo was taken upon graduation from the state police academy in 1984.
