Ralph Gerald Akeman

Indianapolis Police Dept. — Indianapolis, IN

Cardiac Veteran

End of Watch March 23, 1954

Age 46

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 90 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Detective Sergeant Jerry Akeman suffered a fatal heart attack while testifying about a safe-cracking and car theft ring at the Vanderburgh Circuit Court in Evansville.

The defense attorney was cross-examining Detective Sergeant Akeman. The testimony became heated over his refusal to name his confidential source. He collapsed while on the stand and died at the scene.

Detective Sergeant Akeman was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-8DA45878
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 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.
Detective Sergeant Akeman gave the Indianapolis Police Department 12 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

Department Indianapolis Police Dept.

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 23, 1954

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Military Service

Ralph Gerald Akeman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Detective Sergeant Ralph Gerald Akeman is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IN, 24 of 503 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.8% of this state's fallen. That is 0.8 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Indianapolis Police Dept., 1 of 59 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 1.7% of this agency's fallen.

Indianapolis Police Dept.

of 59 officers

1.7% Cardiac

IN — Statewide

of 503 officers

4.8% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac