Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Daniel Starnes succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered one month earlier when he was involved in a shootout during a traffic stop.
Sergeant Starnes, the agency's warrant officer, had stopped a suspect who had an outstanding warrant at Shelton Road and Wilbur Road. While Sergeant Starnes and the driver were outside of their vehicles, shots were exchanged, and Sergeant Starnes was struck in the chest four times by the suspect's .45-caliber handgun. Sergeant Starnes was not wearing a bullet-resistant vest at the time.
The suspect then turned and fired into the patrol car, striking Sergeant Starnes' son, who was participating in a ride-along for a college project. Sergeant Starnes was able to return fire, striking the suspect seven times and wounding him. The son was then able to retrieve the service shotgun from the trunk of the patrol car, and he held the suspect at gunpoint until other units arrived. The incident happened only 15 minutes after Sergeant Starnes reported for duty and was within eyesight of his home. Sergeant Starnes died from his wounds one month later due to complications from an infection at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
The subject was arrested, convicted of murder, and subsequently sentenced to death. On June 2nd, 2015, a federal appeals court overturned the death sentence because the subject claimed to be mentally ill.
Sergeant Starnes had served with the Morgan County Sheriff's Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons, both of whom served with the Indiana State Police as troopers, having graduated from the 59th and 65th ISP Recruit Academies.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-C47D6A28- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Sergeant Starnes gave the Morgan County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Martinsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Starnes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Daniel Robert Starnes is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Morgan County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daniel Robert Starnes's cause is highlighted.
How Daniel Robert Starnes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel Robert Starnes is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Daniel Robert Starnes was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Morgan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
