Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Wade Hull was shot and killed while he and several officers conducted a raid of a dice game at a suspect's home. Numerous complaints had been made by citizens reporting that gambling games were in progress at the Anderson Street address. Lieutenant Cox, Sergeant Hull, and Patrolmen Nagelson and Hare were sent to the address on the evening of September 10 to conduct a raid. The men divided after arriving at the house, with Lieutenant Cox and Patrolman Nagelson going to the rear door and Sergeant Hull and Patrolman Hare going to the front door. Sergeant Hull pushed open the front door and rushed into the middle room of the house where the game was in progress. Patrolman Hare followed, but stopped in the darkened front room to take two of the players into custody. While there, Patrolman Hare heard the shot fired. Sergeant Hull fell in the doorway. Lieutenant Cox and Patrolman Nagelson also heard the shot and broke in the rear door, reaching Sergeant Hull just minutes before he died. The players of the dice game scattered when they heard the police arrive, many jumped through a side window into a narrow courtway at the side of the house. The men were rounded up by police squads scouring the city immediately after the shooting. After an investigation and interviews with the players of the game it was determined who shot Sergeant Hull and the suspect was arrested and indicted on the charge of murder. The suspects first trial ended with a hung-jury; after a retrial the suspect was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in 1938. In 1941 his sentence was commuted to 22 years and he was told he would be released in 1942. Sergeant Hull had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, two brothers and two sisters, and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-8EF045CD- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Hull gave the Indianapolis Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Hull.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Wade Hull 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. Wade Hull's cause is highlighted.
How Wade Hull Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wade Hull is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wade Hull was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Indianapolis Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
