MERRILLVILLE | Gloria Wilcher choked up as she and her family accepted the Ultimate Sacrifice Award on Friday on behalf of her son, the late Gary Patrolman Benjamin Wilcher.

"There were so many people who loved him," she said, her voice trembling. "He was the man I wanted him to be. He became that man."

Benjamin Wilcher, 28, died Aug. 12 from injuries he suffered while pursuing an auto theft suspect. He was on the Gary police force for two years.

Wilcher was among 20 officers from 12 departments honored Friday at the annual Outstanding Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Officers for 2007 luncheon. More than 100 law enforcement officials from throughout the region attended the event sponsored by the Public Information Officers Association at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville.

Hammond Cpl. Kelly Mickey and patrol Officer James Onohan shared the Officer of the Year Award for their work capturing two 16-year-old suspects who were later charged with the murder of Gregory Grudzien, 58, of Griffith. Grudzien was stabbed to death after he interrupted a burglary, officials said.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said some of the recent criminal indictments of region police officers have cast a shadow on the work of other good officers.