Lester E. Jones
Sergeant

Lester E. Jones

Indianapolis Police Dept. — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
End of Watch February 7, 1933
Age 52
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
The Vigil Panel 65 ›
Gender Male

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

Permanent identifier
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

Location Indianapolis, IN
Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 7, 1933
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; Machine gun
Offender Five sentenced to life and paroled

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.

Indianapolis Police Dept.
38
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

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lester E. Jones'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 Lester E. Jones Compares

Age at End of Watch
52
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
19
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

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.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lester E. Jones was killed by rifle; machine gun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518