John W. Hennigar

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, IN

Accident

End of Watch October 22, 1924

Age 31

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman John Hennigar succumbed to injuries suffered the previous day when he was intentionally struck by a suspect whom he had pursued into Ohio on the National Road. The driver of the vehicle drove into Patrolman Hennigar's police motorcycle just east of New Westville located in Preble County, causing fatal injuries. The pursuit started when the man fled after Patrolman Hennigar and his partner attempted to stop the man for transporting liquor. The suspect was arrested the following day and was charged with murder. Patrolman Hennigar had served with the Richmond Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-3DB10A7A
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hennigar gave the Richmond Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hennigar.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department

Location Richmond, IN

Platform Identity rpd.wayne.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 22, 1924

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Offender Charged with murder

Patrolman John W. Hennigar is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At Richmond Police Department, 2 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Police Department

of 6 officers

33.3% Accident

IN — Statewide

151

of 503 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident