Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Timothy Laird was shot and killed after responding to a call of a man walking in a neighborhood street with a rifle.
At approximately 2:00 am, calls were received that there was a man in the 2700 block of Dietz Street with a rifle, and several officers responded. The first officer to arrive was shot and wounded before he exited his patrol car. The suspect then began walking down the street, firing the rifle into the air. As Officer Laird drove into the 2800 block, he came under fire, and as he exited his patrol car, he was fatally wounded when he was struck in the chest above his bullet-resistant vest.
As additional officers responded, they engaged the suspect in a gunbattle where three other officers were shot and wounded. One of the wounded officers returned fire, striking the suspect in the head and chest, killing him. It was later discovered that the suspect had just murdered his mother in their home and that the suspect suffered from schizophrenia. All four wounded officers recovered from their injuries.
Officer Laird was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for nearly 4½ years and was assigned to the South District. He was posthumously awarded the department's Medal of Honor and Purple Heart.
Survivors
Officer Laird is survived by his wife and 7-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-716C0821- 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 Timothy. 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 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.
Officer Laird gave the Indianapolis Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis 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
Timothy Jacob Laird served in the Marine Corps (1991â2000) before joining law enforcement.
Officer Timothy Jacob Laird 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 Indianapolis Police Dept., 38 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Timothy Jacob Laird's cause is highlighted.
How Timothy Jacob Laird Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Timothy Jacob Laird is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Timothy Jacob Laird was killed by rifle; sks.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Indianapolis Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
