Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Wallace McClure and Deputy John Grove were shot and killed while transporting two prisoners, 19 and 20, to the Pendleton Penitentiary in Deputy Grove's car.
The prisoners had been convicted of armed robbery and about to serve two to 20 year sentences in prison. When they failed to arrive at the penitentiary, a nationwide manhunt began and the next day the prisoner's uncle saw the prisoners driving Deputy Grove's car near Danville, Illinois. Two days later, the car was found abandoned in Decatur, Illinois, and Deputy Grove's hat was found east of Lafayette near Maple Point.
The bodies of Deputies McClure and Grove were found on February 16 in a field west of Covington in Warren County. Sometime during the transport the prisoners were able to gain control of the deputy's weapons and executed both of them.
One of the prisoners was arrested on May 21 at his uncle's home in West Lafayette and on June 9, he was sentenced to life in prison for second degree murder. After more than three years, the other prisoner was captured in Albuquerque, New Mexico, using an alias name. He confessed that he was the one who shot and killed both deputies was sentenced to life in prison on January 8, 1932. He was denied parole in 1945. The other suspect was paroled on June 16, 1945, and released to Illinois authorities to face an old parole violation.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-IN-882E3036- Stewardship
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- 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.
Deputy Sheriff McClure served with the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lafayette community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff McClure.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Wallace B. McClure 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 Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wallace B. McClure's cause is highlighted.
How Wallace B. McClure Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wallace B. McClure is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
