John Joseph Streu

Indiana State Police — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 20, 1971

Age 25

Tour of Duty 10 mo

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 45

Incident

Trooper John Streu and Marshal James Larimer of the St. John Police Department were shot and killed while arresting two suspects for kidnapping, robbery, and auto theft. At 7:00 a.m., the two officers responded to a report of two suspicious men sleeping in a vehicle behind Kolling Elementary School. The officers handcuffed one of the men and placed him in the cruiser when the second man opened fire, striking Marshal Larimer. Trooper Streu returned fire, striking the man. He then left his gun in the front seat and went to the aid of Marshal Larimer. When he did so, the handcuffed suspect reached over the seat, picked up Trooper Streu's weapon and shot him. When another Trooper arrived on the scene, the handcuffed suspect shot him through the windshield of his patrol vehicle. Despite being shot in the shoulder, he was able to apprehend the suspect. The suspect, who had escaped from a penal farm, was sentenced to two life terms and died in prison in 2009. The other suspect, who was 17, was sentenced to life in prison and was denied parole several times. He subsequently died in prison in 2015. Trooper Streu was a National Guard veteran who had served with the Indiana State Police for only ten months and was assigned to the Schererville post. He was survived by his wife of three weeks. In 2001, the John J. Streu Memorial Bridge, formerly the Sixth Street Bridge, was dedicated in his honor in Logansport, Trooper Streu's hometown.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife of three weeks.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-4B841059
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 Streu served with the Indiana State Police.
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 February 20, 1971

Tour of Duty 10 mo

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender kidnapping

Military Service

John Joseph Streu served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper John Joseph Streu 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