Video with this story will be updated. See the full interview on News 8 at 10 and 11 p.m.

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — A Delaware County sheriff’s corporal was being remembered Tuesday for his service after he was killed while helping a disabled semi on I-69 near Yorktown.

Sheriff Tony Skinner shared who 31-year-old Cpl. Blake Reynolds was, beyond the badge. “Blake was full of energy, he was ornery, he was always good for a joke, good for moral, one of those guys who’s a good leader, super dedicated to his job and had just such a bright future. It’s just tragic what’s happened.”

The Republican sheriff said he’s known Reynolds, who was born in Muncie, since he was a teenager. Skinner said Reynolds’ dad is a chaplain with the Delaware County Sheriffs Office and pastor at the sheriff’s church. According to Reynolds obituary, he graduated from Delta High School in 2013 and later from Ball State University with a degree in criminal justice.

As Skinner sees it, Reynolds was a great leader. “He’s been on the department for four years, and already been promoted once., so that was one thing that really stood out to me was his potential for leadership. Not just now, and not just what he was doing for the guys on his shift, but what I knew that he was going to turn into 5, 10, 12, 15 years down the road for the department.”

One of the things that has really touched Skinner and Reynolds’ family is the amount of support and love from the community, both near and far. Skinner said the memorial in the front of the Delaware County Justice and Rehabilitation Center is filled with new flowers and gifts every day; many are homemade.

The sheriff said, “I want people who have donated things to know that the family is appreciative. They see those things, and they go through every card and they read every card. They’re handing it like you would expect parents would, they’re grieving, but they’re handling it and they have a lot of support, too.”

As Skinner sees it, Reynolds was called to serve and protect and died a true hero. “It’s personal, it’s emotional with Blake. I thank God that he puts people on this planet like Blake.”

Reynold’s visitation ceremony will be Friday at Grace Baptist Church, and his funeral service will be at Delta High School on Saturday.

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