James Dallas Pitzer

Indiana Department of Natural Resources — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious

End of Watch January 1, 1961

Age 54

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Conservation Officer James Pitzer was shot and killed while investigating two men who were illegally hunting rabbits in Jay County. One of the men was a recent parolee, 53, who served 31 years for murder, and feared he would be sent back to prison, shot and killed Conservation Officer Pitzer, who died instantly from a single shotgun blast which struck him in the head. There was no indication of a robbery, but Conservation Officer Pitzer's .38-caliber service revolver had been ripped from its holster and was not found at the scene. Officer Pitzer had written the men's names on his notepad which led to the arrest of the suspect and his 18-year-old companion the next day. The killer, in 1926 when 18, was convicted of killing his employer and sentenced to life. A few years later he escaped from Indiana State Prison and eluded police for five years before being captured in Covington, Kentucky. He was pardoned by Governor Harold W. Handley in 1957. On February 13, 1961, he was convicted of Officer Pitzer's murder and sentenced to life. He died of a heart attack in prison on October 16, 1972. Conservation Officer Pitzer had served with the Indiana Department of Conservation for 20 years, and was the first conservation officer killed in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife and two children. The Indiana Division of Natural Resources - Division of Law Enforcement's highest commendation award is named the Pitzer Award in honor Officer Pitzer and is awarded annually.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Conservation Officer Pitzer gave the Indiana Department of Conservation 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Conservation Officer Pitzer.

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

Agency

Department Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity indicons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1961

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Died in prison

Conservation Officer James Dallas Pitzer 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 Department of Natural Resources, 1 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 14.3% of this agency's fallen.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

of 7 officers

14.3% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious