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Carl W. Heckman
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

Carl W. Heckman

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch January 3, 1931
Age 28
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 61 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Detective Sergeant Carl Heckman was shot and killed while he and another officer were on a stakeout. The officers were investigating a series of laundry truck robberies that had been occurring. One suspect, 26, was apprehended at the scene and jailed for murder. The other suspect, the gunman, 27, was apprehended in Atlanta, Georgia, three weeks later and transported to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he was wanted for bond jumping. Police officials discovered who he was and he was returned to Indianapolis, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. On October 1, 1934, he was executed by electrocution. Murder charges were dropped against the other suspect. He was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 15 years. He was denied parole on June 23, 1941, but he was released at some point before March 26, 1949, a date he was arrested in Indianapolis at a store he owned for having illegal slot machines, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. After Detective Heckman's murder, the Indianapolis Police Department issued sawed-off shotguns to all of their officers. Detective Sergeant Heckman had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, 1½- and 6-year-old sons and 3-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Detective Sergeant Heckman gave the Indianapolis Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Heckman.

— 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 January 3, 1931
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 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 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Carl was 28. 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. Carl had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Detective Sergeant Carl W. Heckman

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch January 3, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-W

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