John L. Sullivan

Indianapolis Police Dept. — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch July 23, 1952

Age 30

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Officer Jack Sullivan was shot and killed as he returned home from work and interrupted a 17-year-old youth who had broken into his house and was attacking his wife. Officer Sullivan, who was still in uniform, entered his bedroom to find his pregnant wife tied up and being raped by the suspect. As his wife yelled that he had a gun, the suspect shot him in the chest. He was able to return fire and wound the suspect in the arm. The youth was apprehended a short time later and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in 1978. Three years later, he was jailed after being caught driving without a license and felony possession of a firearm. Officer Sullivan was a United States Marine Corps WWII Purple Heart veteran who had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife, two children, parents, and four brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-CFF4A65D
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.
Officer Sullivan gave the Indianapolis Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community, 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 Indianapolis Police Dept.

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1952

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Paroled in 1978

Military Service

John L. Sullivan served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer John L. Sullivan 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