Prev
Incident
Officer Timothy Laird was shot and killed after responding to a call of a man walking in a neighborhood street with a rifle.
At approximately 2:00 am, calls were received that there was a man in the 2700 block of Dietz Street with a rifle, and several officers responded. The first officer to arrive was shot and wounded before he exited his patrol car. The suspect then began walking down the street, firing the rifle into the air. As Officer Laird drove into the 2800 block, he came under fire, and as he exited his patrol car, he was fatally wounded when he was struck in the chest above his bullet-resistant vest.
As additional officers responded, they engaged the suspect in a gunbattle where three other officers were shot and wounded. One of the wounded officers returned fire, striking the suspect in the head and chest, killing him. It was later discovered that the suspect had just murdered his mother in their home and that the suspect suffered from schizophrenia. All four wounded officers recovered from their injuries.
Officer Laird was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for nearly 4½ years and was assigned to the South District. He was posthumously awarded the department's Medal of Honor and Purple Heart.
Survivors
Officer Laird is survived by his wife and 7-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp9jdpxc95fryh0w1de0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Timothy. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Timothy is one person.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Laird gave the Indianapolis Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Timothy Jacob Laird served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1991â2000) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Indianapolis Police Department has lost 59 officers; 38 of them killed feloniously.
Timothy is one of 310 officers killed feloniously in IN, 61.6% of the 503 remembered there.
Timothy is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Timothy is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2004, 1 officer at Indianapolis Police Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 34 years on record. The heaviest was 1906, with 2.
In 2004, 2 officers in IN were killed feloniously, the 49th heaviest of 122 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 9.
In 2004, 79 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 86th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2004, 83 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 83rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Timothy was 31. Of the 35 killed feloniously at Indianapolis Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 40.5; the middle age was 34. Timothy had served 4.4 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Timothy was 31. Of the 299 killed feloniously in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46; the middle age was 38. Timothy had served 4.4 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Timothy was 31. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Timothy had served 4.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Timothy was 31. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Timothy had served 4.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 10.5% of these deaths at Indianapolis Police Department; December holds the most, 15.8%. Wednesdays: 15.8%.
August holds 8.1% of these deaths in IN; January holds the most, 11%. Wednesdays: 13.5%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 64.4% of all 59 deaths at Indianapolis Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 2.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.6% of all 503 deaths in IN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 0.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 0.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 0.1% of these deaths.
His people
Indianapolis Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Timothy among them.
-
Hugh Burns
Aug 28, 1882
-
John L. Watterson
Dec 23, 1893
-
Charles A. Ware
Apr 27, 1897
-
Benjamin Tobias Thornton
Jun 18, 1900
-
William Edward Dolby
Jul 14, 1906
-
Charles J. Russell
Sep 30, 1906
-
Edward J. Petticord
Oct 2, 1906
-
Samuel F. Irish
Jun 7, 1909
-
Joseph Krupp
Apr 19, 1910
-
Arthur F. Barrows
Jun 4, 1911
-
John E. McKinney
Mar 28, 1912
-
Elmer C. Anderson
Jan 15, 1915
-
James D. Hagerty
Jun 23, 1916
-
John P. DeRossette
Jan 30, 1917
-
Marion E. Ellis
Jan 23, 1918
-
Wade Hull
Sep 10, 1919
-
Maurice Murphy
Mar 4, 1920
-
David S. Richards
Jan 3, 1922
-
William Whitfield
Nov 27, 1922
-
Jesse N. Louden
Jun 17, 1923
-
John F. Buchanan
Jul 9, 1926
-
Charles E. Carter, Jr.
May 9, 1927
-
William C. Mueller
Mar 2, 1928
-
Norman Leslie Schoen
Mar 6, 1928
-
Paul P. Miller
Jul 18, 1928
-
Roscoe C. Shipp
Jul 24, 1929
-
Carl W. Heckman
Jan 3, 1931
-
Lester E. Jones
Feb 7, 1933
-
Orville E. Quinnette
Dec 18, 1935
-
Richard Rivers
Apr 27, 1936
-
Alvie C. Emmelman
May 29, 1938
-
Harry A. Bolin
Aug 15, 1940
-
James J. Reilly
Jan 29, 1942
-
Byron Douglas Todd
Oct 9, 1942
-
Marshall R. Foster
Jul 4, 1947
-
Robert J. Baker
Oct 2, 1948
-
Clarence G. Snorden
Jun 26, 1951
-
James T. Gaughan
Sep 8, 1951
-
John L. Sullivan
Jul 23, 1952
-
Arthur L. Reifeis
Mar 9, 1953
-
Ray Whobrey
Apr 24, 1953
-
Edward H. Berry
Feb 4, 1954
-
Ralph Gerald Akeman
Mar 23, 1954
-
Albert A. Kelly
Dec 6, 1956
-
Donald H. Kilbourne
Nov 13, 1964
-
Thomas R. Graham
Oct 12, 1965
-
Robert Edward Schachte
Oct 22, 1974
-
Ronald H. Manley
Dec 12, 1974
-
Warren Edward Greene
Dec 20, 1975
-
James M. Compton, Jr.
Mar 16, 1976
-
Ernest Max Lacy
May 22, 1977
-
Nathan Lincks
Oct 25, 1977
-
Gerald F. Griffin
Nov 6, 1979
-
Jack R. Ohrberg
Dec 11, 1980
-
Paul A. Kortepeter
Jan 19, 1983
-
Dave LaRue Sandler
Jun 4, 1986
-
Matt John Faber
Aug 23, 1988
-
Teresa Jean Hawkins
Aug 17, 1993
-
Timothy Jacob Laird
Aug 18, 2004
Where
Military Service
Timothy Jacob Laird served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1991–2000) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Timothy Jacob Laird’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Indianapolis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
