Robert Otto Lietzan

Indiana State Police — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 30, 1969

Age 31

Tour of Duty 7 yrs 7 mo

The Vigil Panel 105 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 45

Incident

Trooper Robert Lietzan was shot and killed after responding to a call of a mentally deranged subject shooting around a camping area near Metamora in Franklin County. As Trooper Lietzan and sheriff's deputies arrived they found a man in a barricaded position. While attempting to get the suspect to surrender, he opened fire with a rifle, fatally striking Trooper Lietzan in the head before being taken into custody. The suspect, 25, was committed in a state mental institution in 1962 and released a year later. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on November 14, 1969. He was released in April of 1993. Trooper Lietzan had served with the Indiana State Police for over 7½ years and was assigned to the Connersville post. He was a US Navy veteran.

Survivors

Trooper Lietzan was survived by his wife and 4-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-5A11EBB0
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.
Trooper Lietzan gave the Indiana State Police 7 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 March 30, 1969

Tour of Duty 7 yrs 7 mo

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Released in 1993

Military Service

Robert Otto Lietzan served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Robert Otto Lietzan 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