Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Sergeant James Gaughan was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a disturbance call. The patrol car that Detective Sergeant Gaughan and his partner were riding in was struck by another vehicle at the intersection of North and Alabama streets. Both detectives were thrown to the pavement by the impact, killing Detective Sergeant Gaughan and injuring his partner. The driver of the vehicle was charged with reckless homicide and failure to stop at an intersection. Detective Sergeant Gaughan had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for nine years and was scheduled to leave on vacation with his family at the end of his shift.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, an 11-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-0B8B3651- 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.
Detective Sergeant Gaughan gave the Indianapolis Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Gaughan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant James T. Gaughan 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. James T. Gaughan's cause is highlighted.
How James T. Gaughan Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James T. Gaughan is highlighted in Sep.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Indianapolis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
