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Wade Hull
Agency patch
Sergeant

Wade Hull

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch September 10, 1919
Age 48
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
The Vigil Panel 85 · Column 2 · Line 17 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Sergeant Wade Hull was shot and killed while he and several officers conducted a raid of a dice game at a suspect's home. Numerous complaints had been made by citizens reporting that gambling games were in progress at the Anderson Street address. Lieutenant Cox, Sergeant Hull, and Patrolmen Nagelson and Hare were sent to the address on the evening of September 10 to conduct a raid. The men divided after arriving at the house, with Lieutenant Cox and Patrolman Nagelson going to the rear door and Sergeant Hull and Patrolman Hare going to the front door. Sergeant Hull pushed open the front door and rushed into the middle room of the house where the game was in progress. Patrolman Hare followed, but stopped in the darkened front room to take two of the players into custody. While there, Patrolman Hare heard the shot fired. Sergeant Hull fell in the doorway. Lieutenant Cox and Patrolman Nagelson also heard the shot and broke in the rear door, reaching Sergeant Hull just minutes before he died. The players of the dice game scattered when they heard the police arrive, many jumped through a side window into a narrow courtway at the side of the house. The men were rounded up by police squads scouring the city immediately after the shooting. After an investigation and interviews with the players of the game it was determined who shot Sergeant Hull and the suspect was arrested and indicted on the charge of murder. The suspects first trial ended with a hung-jury; after a retrial the suspect was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in 1938. In 1941 his sentence was commuted to 22 years and he was told he would be released in 1942. Sergeant Hull had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 22 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, two brothers and two sisters, and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

22 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Hull gave the Indianapolis Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Hull.

— 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 September 10, 1919
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Wade 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Wade was 48. 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. Wade had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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, Wade among them.

Across the years

Sergeant Wade Hull

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch September 10, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W

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