William Rae Kellems

Indiana State Police — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 30, 1957

Age 27

Tour of Duty 10 mo

The Vigil Panel 93 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 45

Incident

Trooper William Kellems was shot and killed by the suspects who had shot and killed Michigan State Trooper Dugald Pellot earlier in the day. After murdering Trooper Pellot, the suspects fled to Indiana where Trooper Kellems spotted the suspects' vehicle traveling through Scott County. As Trooper Kellems made a traffic stop at U.S. 31 and State Road 56 in Scottsburg, two shots were fired as he approached the vehicle, fatally wounding him before the suspects fled the scene. As the suspects attempted to run a roadblock, they wounded two other officers before the suspect who had murdered Trooper Pellot was shot and killed. The other suspect, who had taken a Jennings County deputy sheriff hostage during his escape, was captured and later sentenced to life in prison. Trooper Kellems had served with the Indiana State Police for only 10 months and was assigned to the Charlestown post. He was a US Air Force veteran.

Survivors

Trooper Kellems was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-B8BDC737
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.
Trooper Kellems served with the Indiana State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Indiana State Police

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity insp.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 30, 1957

Tour of Duty 10 mo

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

William Rae Kellems served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper William Rae Kellems 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 Indiana State Police, 21 of 46 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.7% of this agency's fallen.

Indiana State Police

of 46 officers

45.7% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious