Carl W. Heckman

Indianapolis Police Dept. — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious

End of Watch January 3, 1931

Age 28

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Detective Sergeant Carl Heckman was shot and killed while he and another officer were on a stakeout. The officers were investigating a series of laundry truck robberies that had been occurring. One suspect, 26, was apprehended at the scene and jailed for murder. The other suspect, the gunman, 27, was apprehended in Atlanta, Georgia, three weeks later and transported to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he was wanted for bond jumping. Police officials discovered who he was and he was returned to Indianapolis, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. On October 1, 1934, he was executed by electrocution. Murder charges were dropped against the other suspect. He was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 15 years. He was denied parole on June 23, 1941, but he was released at some point before March 26, 1949, a date he was arrested in Indianapolis at a store he owned for having illegal slot machines, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. After Detective Heckman's murder, the Indianapolis Police Department issued sawed-off shotguns to all of their officers. Detective Sergeant Heckman had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, 1½- and 6-year-old sons and 3-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Detective Sergeant Heckman gave the Indianapolis Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Heckman.

— 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 January 3, 1931

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender One executed, one sentenced to 15 years

Detective Sergeant Carl W. Heckman 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.

Indianapolis Police Dept.

of 59 officers

64.4% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious