Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Durm succumbed to injuries he sustained at about 11:30 am when he was attacked by a prisoner attempting to escape from the Community Justice Campus at 675 Justice Way in Indianapolis.
He was returning the murder suspect from the hospital when the man violently assaulted him in the detention center's sallyport. The prisoner wrapped the handcuff chain, linking it around Deputy Durm's neck, with both of them falling to the ground during the struggle. As soon as Deputy Durm stopped moving, the prisoner unlocked his handcuffs, then stole one of the sheriff's vans but crashed outside the complex during his escape attempt.
Deputy Durm was transported to Eskenazi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The prisoner was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and has been charged with murder.
Deputy Durm had served with the Marion County Sheriff's Office for 38 years. He is survived by his four children and parents. His father and two brothers and two brotehrs laos served with the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He is survived by his four children and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-9DAFF44B- Stewardship
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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
38 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Durm gave the Marion County Sheriff's Office 38 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Durm.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Durm 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 Marion County Sheriff's Department, 9 of 12 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 Durm's cause is highlighted.
How John Durm Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Durm is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Durm was killed by not available.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Marion County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
