Roll of Honor
Michael Robert Keel
Incident
Maintenance Foreman Mike Keel succumbed to injuries he received when an inmate at the Indiana State Prison at 1 Park Row Street in Michigan City assaulted him.
While working in the steel shop, one of the inmates began arguing with Foreman Keel. The altercation turned physical, and the inmate beat him over the head with a steel pipe. He was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where he was kept alive until his organs could be donated.
The inmate was serving a 220-year sentence for child molestation. He has been charged with murder and aggravated battery.
Foreman Keel had served with the Indiana Department of Correction for 29 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, a sister, and four grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-248B5962- 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
29 years. You could have gone home.
Maintenance Foreman Keel gave the Indiana Department of Correction 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Maintenance Foreman Keel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Maintenance Foreman Michael Robert Keel 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 Department of Correction, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Robert Keel's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Robert Keel Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Robert Keel is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Robert Keel was killed by blunt object; pipe.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Indiana Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
