Donald Eugene Owens

Bloomington Police Department — Bloomington, IN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 15, 1975

Age 49

Tour of Duty 30 yrs

The Vigil Panel 116 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Captain Donald Owens was shot and killed by a prisoner he was escorting from court at 122 South Walnut Street in Bloomington. At 2:15 p.m., after leaving the courtroom, the prisoner, who was handcuffed in front, was able to draw Captain Owens' service weapon. He fired the shot into his stomach, intending to commit suicide, but the bullet went through his stomach and struck Captain Owens in the heart, killing him instantly. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 to 25 years in prison. Captain Owens was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Bloomington Police Department for 30 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-2B1AB46D
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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.
Captain Owens gave the Bloomington Police Department 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bloomington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Bloomington Police Department

Location Bloomington, IN

Platform Identity bpd.monroe.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 15, 1975

Tour of Duty 30 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 15 to 25 years

Military Service

Donald Eugene Owens served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Captain Donald Eugene Owens is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Bloomington Police Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Bloomington Police Department

of 5 officers

40% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious