Roll of Honor
Incident
Custody Officer John Grimm was beaten to death by inmates during an attempted escape from the Indiana Reformatory in Clarksville.
Upon entering the prison bakery at 10:00 pm, Custody Officer Grimm was beaten with a hammer by six inmates who had plotted to escape from the prison that evening. The inmates then took Custody Officer Grimm's revolver and shot him once through his mouth. As the inmates made their way out of the prison, they seized the weapon of another guard after he was bound and gagged. It was later determined that Custody Officer Grimm died from 11 distinct fractures to his skull and not from the gunshot wound.
All six of the inmates, ages 17 to 23, two of whom were shot and wounded, were captured on the grounds of the prison and charged with murder. One of the injured inmates later died from his wounds. Two were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. In 1942 the sentence of one of the two was commuted to 21 years making him eligible for parole.
Custody Officer Grimm had served with the Indiana Department of Correction for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, two brothers, sister and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-7E3C83CA- 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 Grimm gave the Indiana Department of Correction 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Custody Officer Grimm.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Custody Officer John H. Grimm 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. John H. Grimm's cause is highlighted.
How John H. Grimm Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Grimm is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John H. Grimm was killed by blunt object; hammer.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Indiana Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
