Roll of Honor
Incident
Custody Officer Virgil Orem succumbed to injuries he suffered 14 months earlier after being assaulted during an escape attempt at the Indiana Reformatory in Clarksville.
On the evening of the assault, two inmates had been called out of their cells to repair a motor in one of the wells at the institution. The inmates, whose intent was to escape, believed Custody Officer Orem possessed the keys to an engineering vault containing ropes and pulleys. As Custody Officer Orem returned to the area where the inmates were working, he was struck about his head with a heavy piece of iron and beaten nearly unconscious. Custody Officer Orem was able to return to work performing light duties after about six weeks, but developed a worsening paralytic condition about a month before he died, on his 41st birthday. Custody Officer Orem had served with the Indiana Department of Correction for two years.
On the evening of the assault, two inmates had been called out of their cells to repair a motor in one of the wells at the institution. The inmates, whose intent was to escape, believed Custody Officer Orem possessed the keys to an engineering vault containing ropes and pulleys. As Custody Officer Orem returned to the area where the inmates were working, he was struck about his head with a heavy piece of iron and beaten nearly unconscious.
Custody Officer Orem was able to return to work performing light duties after about six weeks, but developed a worsening paralytic condition about a month before he died, on his 41st birthday.
Custody Officer Orem had served with the Indiana Department of Correction for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, two sisters and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-56E7C4EE- 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.
Custody Officer Orem gave the Indiana Department of Correction 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Custody Officer Orem.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Custody Officer Virgil L. Orem 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. Virgil L. Orem's cause is highlighted.
How Virgil L. Orem Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Virgil L. Orem is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Virgil L. Orem was killed by blunt object.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Indiana Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
