Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Dave Sandler was killed in a motorcycle crash at an intersection in the 2700 block of Madison Avenue at about 8:30 pm. Another vehicle attempted to make a left turn in front of him when the collision occurred. Sergeant Sandler was transported to Wishard Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Investigators believed that the bulb in his motorcycle's headlight burnt out or experienced a mechanical failure because a witness stated that the headlight was not at the time of the crash. The motorcycle's headlight was supposed to turn on when the engine was running. Because it was dusk, Sergeant Sandler would not have realized that the light was not working. Sergeant Sandler had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 24 years.
Survivors
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In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
24 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Sandler gave the Indianapolis Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Sandler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Dave LaRue Sandler is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Indianapolis Police Department, 19 of 59 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dave LaRue Sandler's cause is highlighted.
How Dave LaRue Sandler Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Dave LaRue Sandler is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Indianapolis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
