Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal John Whisman succumbed to injuries he received when he was shot during a traffic stop.
Marshal Whisman was in the process of arresting the driver for intoxication when the subject pulled out a gun. Marshal Whisman shot him in the arm, and the subject dropped his weapon. The subject's wife picked up the gun and shot Marshal Whisman in the head.
Marshal Whisman succumbed to his wounds ten days later.
The subject was arrested and charged with murder. She was acquitted.
Marshal Whisman was a United States Army WWI veteran and served with the Charlestown Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-2B6F339B- 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.
Town Marshal Whisman gave the Charlestown Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charlestown community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Medley Whisman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Town Marshal John Medley Whisman 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 Charlestown Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Medley Whisman's cause is highlighted.
How John Medley Whisman Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Medley Whisman is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Medley Whisman was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Charlestown Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
