Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Paul Minneman was shot and killed while searching for members of the Brady Gang, wanted in connection with the armed robbery of the Goodland State Bank in Newton County and previously for the murders of two other police officers. Trooper Minneman and a Cass County deputy sheriff were parked on the side of a road when a car passed and shots were fired at them. The two officers gave chase and lost sight of the vehicle. As the officers stepped out of their vehicle at a small rural church in White County to look for tire tracks, they were met by automatic rifle fire by the hiding suspects, striking both officers. Trooper Minneman was shot over 20 times and succumbed to his wounds two days later. Although seriously wounded, the deputy survived. In October, two of the suspects were shot and killed in a shootout in Bangor, Maine. The third suspect was captured and convicted of murder and bank robbery under federal law and sentenced to death. On November 18, 1938, he was executed by electrocution at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. The Brady Gang was also responsible for the murder of Officer Richard Rivers of the Indianapolis Police Department on April 27, 1936. Although never proven, they were also suspected of murdering Officer Frank Levy of the Anderson Police Department on November 25, 1935. Trooper Minneman had served with the Indiana State Police for over 1½ years and was assigned to the Lafayette post. He was survived by his wife, unborn daughter, sisters and parents. In 1987, Trooper Minneman was posthumously awarded the agency's Gold Star Award for Valor for his extraordinary heroism.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, unborn daughter, sisters and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-09700E86- 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
You barely got started.
Trooper Minneman gave the Indiana State Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Minneman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Paul Vincent Minneman 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 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Vincent Minneman's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Vincent Minneman Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Vincent Minneman is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul Vincent Minneman was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
45 officers from Indiana State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
