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Incident
Correctional Officer Tim Betts suffered a fatal heart attack while escorting an unruly inmate to the segregation unit at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility.
He suddenly collapsed as he and other officers moved the inmate. The other officers immediately began CPR and used an automated external defibrillator until an ambulance arrived. Officer Betts was transported to Sullivan County Community Hospital where he passed away a short time later.
Officer Betts had served with the Indiana Department of Correction for 15 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Betts gave the Indiana Department of Correction 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Betts.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Indiana Department of Correction has lost 12 officers; 1 of them lost to cardiac events.
Timothy is one of 24 officers lost to cardiac events in IN, 4.8% of the 503 remembered there.
Timothy is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Timothy is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2012, 1 officer in IN was lost to cardiac events, the 3rd heaviest of 22 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 2.
In 2012, 11 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 54th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 2012, 11 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 54th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Timothy was 51. Of the 24 lost to cardiac events in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 52; the middle age was 49. Timothy had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Timothy was 51. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Timothy had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Timothy was 51. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Timothy had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
August holds 12.5% of these deaths in IN; September holds the most, 16.7%. Sundays: 20.8%.
August holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 13.9%.
August holds 8% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 13.9%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 8.3% of all 12 deaths at Indiana Department of Correction, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.8% of all 503 deaths in IN, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Indiana Department of Correction has 12 officers remembered here, Timothy among them.
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George Chamberlain May 11, 1874
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Hiram B. McWilliams Nov 22, 1911
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Ora D. Ambrose Oct 18, 1913
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William T. Spears Oct 18, 1913
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Virgil L. Orem Jan 21, 1919
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John H. Grimm May 8, 1921
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Harold Edward Rice
Dec 29, 1976
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Phillip K. Curry
Dec 13, 1994
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Timothy A. Betts
Aug 26, 2012
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Shawn Allan Burnell
Oct 18, 2020
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Eugene Lee Lasco
Feb 21, 2021
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Michael Robert Keel
Apr 12, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Indiana Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
