Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Jim Lutz was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend two suspects who had robbed the Bank One at the intersection of Highway 18 and Highway 83 in Wales, Wisconsin.
After robbing the bank, the suspects fled towards Waukesha with officers in pursuit. Captain Lutz joined the pursuit on Meadowbrook Road in Waukesha. He was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire while pursuing the suspects. The suspects, who were a father and son, then abandoned their car and fled on foot. As officers moved in, the suspects car-jacked another car and fled.
The suspects were forced to abandon their second car when they turned down a dead-end road. They fled on foot and broke into a house where they held the female homeowner hostage. The suspects then forced the female to drive them in her van in another escape attempt. As the van approached a police checkpoint, the suspects and police exchanged gunfire, and the female hostage was able to jump free from the van. The suspects were able to get about 300 yards from the roadblock before crashing their van.
They were then taken into custody by officers. The father and son were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 100 years.
Captain Lutz was a graduate of the FBI National Academy who had served with the Waukesha Police Department for 29 years and previously served with the Milwaukee Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-D59CD5A3- 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
30 years. You could have gone home.
Captain Lutz gave the Waukesha Police Department 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Waukesha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Lutz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain James Lutz 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Waukesha Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Lutz's cause is highlighted.
How James Lutz Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Lutz is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Lutz was killed by rifle; mini 14.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Waukesha Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
