Salvatore Frank "Tudie" Navarra
Agency patch
Sheriff

Salvatore Frank "Tudie" Navarra

Accident
End of Watch May 29, 1961
Age 51
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 5 mo
Badge 16-1
The Vigil Panel 96 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Salvatore Navarra was killed in an automobile accident during a vehicle pursuit over two miles east of Clarksburg. As the pursuit reached speeds of over 110 mph, Sheriff Navarra's vehicle flipped over as he took a curve. He was ejected through the windshield before being crushed by his squad car. The 18-year-old suspect was being pursued at the request of his parole officer for gasoline theft. When he was apprehended a week later hiding in an attic, he threatened authorities with a hunting knife. He was taken into custody and charged with resisting arrest, reckless driving, driving without a license and failure to obey a police officer. Sheriff Navarra had served with the Decatur County Sheriff's Department for nearly 2½ years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-99973EAA
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.
Sheriff Navarra gave the Decatur County Sheriff's Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greensburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Navarra.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Greensburg, IN
Platform Identity dcso.decatur.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 29, 1961
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 5 mo
Age 51
Badge Number 16-1
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile
Offender Charged

Sheriff Salvatore Frank "Tudie" Navarra is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

Decatur County Sheriff's Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Accident
IN — Statewide
151
of 503 officers
30% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Salvatore Frank "Tudie" Navarra's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Salvatore Frank "Tudie" Navarra Compares

Age at End of Watch
51
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
2.4
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

Offender Outcome

Charged

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Salvatore Frank "Tudie" Navarra is highlighted in May.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897