Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Cain was shot and killed while he and another officer attempted to disperse a crowd at a nearby saloon. One of the people in the crowd, a parolee from the Indiana State Prison, opened fire, striking Patrolman Cain.
The suspect had recently been released from prison for assault and battery with intent to kill. He was suffering from tuberculosis and was sent home to die. One of his last acts at the penitentiary was helping to construct the electric chair and liked to boast that he was the first person to sit in it.
He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On October 16, 1914, he was the third person to be executed by electrocution in the state.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-71178618- 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.
Patrolman Cain gave the Evansville Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Evansville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cain.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John V. Cain Jr. 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 Evansville Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John V. Cain Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How John V. Cain Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John V. Cain Jr. is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Evansville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
