Honest. Disciplined. Family-oriented. Faithful.
These are just a few of the many words friends and co-workers of Timothy “Tim” Guyer used to describe the fallen Johnson County Sheriff’s deputy. The 49-year-old Trafalgar resident was well-known throughout the town and beyond as a man of faith, family man, youth sports coach, building inspector and business owner.
Guyer, who was sworn in as a sheriff’s deputy in December, died Tuesday after he was found unresponsive in his dorm room at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. He was two weeks away from graduating from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
Indiana State Police detectives are investigating his death, and preliminarily believe he died of a medical issue. Guyer leaves behind a wife and four kids, who he cared deeply for, his friends said.
From Guyer’s interview for the job and his work at the academy, it was clear he was ready and excited to take on the job. Guyer had never done police work before but felt called to take on the job, Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess said.
Guyer was at the academy to fulfill a dream of his, said Major Andy Fisher, road division commander. He will be missed by the entire community, Fisher said.
‘Willing to volunteer’
Guyer served the greater Indian Creek community in a variety of roles over the years.
He was the president of the IC Wrestling Club for four years before stepping down last year. He also volunteered for many years as a wrestling club coach and baseball coach and spent time as an assistant baseball coach at Indian Creek High School and as an assistant football coach at Indian Creek Middle School.
“He’s a guy that was dedicated, willing to volunteer, give his time — not just to his kids and his family — but to all of our student-athletes,” said Derek Perry, athletic director for Indian Creek Schools. “Everyone, everyone liked him. Never heard a bad word about him, from anyone. He would go out of his way to help with the athletic program, our community.”
Perry remembers times when he would see Guyer around Indian Creek. He always had a smile on his face and was never negative, Perry said.
“(He’s) just one of those guys that every community needs and it’d be great to have several individuals like him,” Perry said.
Greg Taylor, the Braves’ baseball head coach, had known Guyer for over 30 years. They went to junior college together and played baseball together. Eventually, they both came back to Trafalgar together, where their kids became close, and where they coached together.
Describing Guyer as a calming person full of integrity, Taylor said he lived his life with faith and family first and foremost. He was in the community and coaching not only for the betterment of his own children but every child he interacted with.
“His philosophy, very similar to mine, would have been to make them better people and better men, better followers of Christ first, and then better athletes second,” Taylor said.
Learning of Guyer’s death was a “gut punch” for Taylor.
“When I heard that call, I was in disbelief. I just didn’t know really how to cut react or how to process it,” Taylor said. “I’m still going through those emotions right now. It was extremely tough not only for me, but for his family and the community in general.”
Guyer had a servant’s heart and was always wanting to help others and make them better. He treated everyone with respect, Taylor said.
“That’s probably what I’ll miss the most. His example of being a husband and a father is something that’s going to be greatly missed,” he said.
‘Honored’ to know him
Before Guyer started his path as sheriff’s deputy, he spent 27 years in construction. He co-owned Franklin-based BC Construction for 17 years with his business partners Brian Santerre and Brian Corey and was the building inspector for the towns of New Whiteland, Trafalgar and Morgantown.
Santerre first met Guyer about 27 years ago. At the time, Santerre was framing houses, and Guyer came to work for him. They worked together for eight years before parting ways. About seven years ago, they began to work together at BC Construction after Guyer joined forces with Corey.
“He was a really, super hard worker, a wonderful family man and Christian, a good husband, a great father. They just don’t make them any better,” Santerre said.
Corey and Guyer had known each other for about 20 years and had worked together in the construction industry before becoming partners at BC Construction.
He was an outdoor enthusiast who really enjoyed hunting, fishing and horseback riding. Guyer, Corey and some other friends would go on a fishing trip to northern Michigan together once a year.
“I know he really enjoyed that and got a lot of really good memories from those trips over the years,” Corey said.
Guyer had a quiet demeanor, but he also had a great sense of humor. He was also a dedicated, steady, Christian man, Santerre said.
Santerre likened him to King David, a man after God’s own heart, he said. Guyer became a Christian about 25 years ago, Santerre said.
“He loved God, and treated everybody with that same love and learned and grew as a spiritual, Christian man,” Santerre said “… When I first met him 27 years ago, he was not a Christian. But I can tell you that from that point forth, he has grown as a strong, Christian man, a leader in the community, and a friend, father, husband, brother.”
Guyer knew everyone, and whenever Santerre was out with him, there was always someone saying ‘hi.’ And Guyer was always saying it back.
He also took an interest in what was going on in people’s lives, Santerre said.
“It was just amazing in the way he just took an interest in everybody,” Santerre said.
Both Santerre and Guyer were devastated upon learning of Guyer’s death. He was a wonderful business partner and friend who people could rely on, trust and respect, Santerre said.
For Corey, Guyer was a best friend whose life was intertwined with his. They frequently saw each other’s kids and spent time with each other’s families, he said.
“It’s devastating to lose someone like that,” Corey said. “You only meet a couple of times in your whole life someone of that caliber. I feel honored that we were able to work together in the time that we did and to call him my friend.”
Guyer’s legacy
Perry says Guyer’s legacy will live on at Indian Creek and the greater Trafalgar community. His death has been tough for the entire community, and school officials plan to do their best to keep his legacy moving forward, he said.
“I don’t think there are many people out there that didn’t know Tim,” Perry said. “So his legacy will definitely — the lives he’s touched, the things he’s done in our athletic program and in our community — that will go on forever.”
Guyer will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin on Tuesday, following a service at the Fair Haven Christian Church — where he and his wife have attended services for 15 years, according to his obituary at Swartz Mortuary. Members of the public are invited to attend the services, and there will be a very minimal level of law enforcement ceremonial traditions as the services will be focused on all aspects of Guyer’s life and not just his most recent decision to join the law enforcement family, said Chief Deputy Andrew Barnhart.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Tim Guyer Memorial Fund through the NHJ Educational Foundation, with the funds being sent to Indian Creek Schools for support of athletic programs including football, wrestling and baseball. The fund can be accessed at bit.ly/3YkHSUc.
Donations can also be sent to Fair Haven Christian Church, 1476 W. County Road 300 South, Franklin.
TURN TRAFALGAR BLUE
To honor Tim Guyer, Trafalgar Clerk-Treasurer Donna Moore is asking residents to turn on blue lights to honor Guyer and other fallen officers.
Guyer lived in Trafalgar and was a part of the community.
“Turn Trafalgar Blue!” Moore said.
