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Matt John Faber
Agency patch
Officer

Matt John Faber

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch August 23, 1988
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Badge 463
The Vigil Panel 133 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Officer Matt Faber succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered nine days earlier after being hit by a shotgun blast in the back while responding to an animal complaint in the 2900 block of Arthington Boulevard. After speaking with the complainant, Officer Faber went across the street to speak with the dog owner. The subject began to struggle with Officer Faber and then ran into his house. When backup officers arrived they attempted to enter the house to arrest the man. The man attempted to block the door and then retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun as the officers entered. Upon seeing the armed subject, the officers attempted to retreat from the home but the man opened fire, striking Officer Faber in the back. The subject was shot and wounded by return fire. He was subsequently charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to only seven years in prison. Officer Faber had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for just over one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, who also served with the Indianapolis Police Department.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Officer Faber gave the Indianapolis Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Faber.

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

Agency

Department Indianapolis Police Department
Type Other
Location Indianapolis, Marion County, IN
Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1988
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 24
Badge Number 463
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Matt is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Matt was 24. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Matt had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Indianapolis Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Matt among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Matt John Faber

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch August 23, 1988

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-W

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