Incident
Sergeant Lester Jones was shot and killed by an outlaw gang when he interrupted a robbery in progress. The suspects opened fire with a machine gun. Five suspects were arrested six weeks later in Covington, Kentucky. They were returned to Indiana and confined in the Hamilton County Jail. On February 9, 1934, one escaped from jail. He was captured in Cincinnati, Ohio, ten weeks later. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled in 1967. In 1934 two others pleaded guilty to second degree murder and were sentenced to life. One applied for a parole in 1951 and was paroled at some point between 1951 and 1955. The other one was paroled in 1956. In 1935 the last two, including the gunman, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. They were paroled in 1953. Sergeant Jones had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 19 years.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-IN-CC3006D1- 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.
Sergeant Jones gave the Indianapolis Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Jones.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Lester E. Jones 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. Lester E. Jones's cause is highlighted.
How Lester E. Jones Compares
Offender Outcome
Five sentenced to life and paroled
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lester E. Jones is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lester E. Jones was killed by rifle; machine gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Indianapolis Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















