John Edward Hatfull

Indiana State Police — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch April 13, 1987

Age 45

Tour of Duty 14 yrs 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 132 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 45

Incident

Sergeant John Hatfull was shot and killed while leading an Emergency Response Team into the home of a suicidal man who had held them at bay for several hours in Posey County. After killing Sergeant Hatfull, the man, who was home on a work-release program, turned the gun on himself. Sergeant Hatfull was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who had served with the Indiana State Police for over 14 years and was assigned to the Evansville post. He was survived by his wife and two children. After his death, he was promoted to lieutenant, the agency's only officer to ever receive a posthumous promotion.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-3D9CF371
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.
Lieutenant Hatfull gave the Indiana State Police 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana, 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 Indiana State Police

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity insp.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 13, 1987

Tour of Duty 14 yrs 2 mo

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

John Edward Hatfull served in the Marine Corps (1961â1965) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Lieutenant John Edward Hatfull 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 Indiana State Police, 21 of 46 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.7% of this agency's fallen.

Indiana State Police

of 46 officers

45.7% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious