Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Wittchen was checking on a report of a burglary in progress and was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow officer who mistook him for an armed burglar in the night shadows.
Patrolman Wittchen had served with the Schererville Police Department for 3½ years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-59DBF95A- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Wittchen gave the Schererville Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Schererville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Wittchen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman James Roy Wittchen 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 Schererville Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Roy Wittchen's cause is highlighted.
How James Roy Wittchen Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Roy Wittchen is highlighted in Feb.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Schererville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
