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Charles A. Ware
Officer

Charles A. Ware

Indianapolis Police Dept. — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch April 27, 1897
Age 33
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 14 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Officer Charles Ware was shot and killed after responding to a disturbance at a saloon near Georgia and East streets.

The suspect was arrested a short time later and sentenced to life in prison. He escaped in 1899, but was recaptured. He was paroled in 1917 despite his life sentence.

Officer Ware served with the Indianapolis Police Department for a year and a half.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-201A3F4E
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

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Ware gave the Indianapolis Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Indianapolis Police Dept.
Location Indianapolis, IN
Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1897
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Paroled in 1917

Officer Charles A. Ware 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 Indianapolis Police Dept., 38 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.4% of this agency's fallen.

Indianapolis Police Dept.
38
of 59 officers
64.4% Felonious
IN — Statewide
311
of 503 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles A. Ware's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Charles A. Ware Compares

Age at End of Watch
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1917

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles A. Ware is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles A. Ware was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location