Paul A. Kortepeter
Agency patch
Officer

Paul A. Kortepeter

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
End of Watch January 19, 1983
Age 39
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 126 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Paul Kortepeter was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by two fleeing armed robbery suspects. Officer Kortepeter was attempting to intercept and assist two state troopers and a deputy in pursuit of the suspects when he was struck near the intersection of Maywood Road and South Tibbs Avenue in Indianapolis. The 31-year-old driver was convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years, and he received an additional 30 years for being a habitual felon. The other suspect was convicted of armed robbery. The other charges were dropped. Officer Kortepeter had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Kortepeter gave the Indianapolis Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Kortepeter.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Indianapolis, Marion County, IN
Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 19, 1983
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Paul is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1983, 106 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 47th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Paul was 39. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Paul had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Indianapolis Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Paul among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Paul A. Kortepeter

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch January 19, 1983

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 51-E

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