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Edward J. Petticord
Agency patch
Officer

Edward J. Petticord

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch October 2, 1906
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 51 · Column 2 · Line 17 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Officer Edward Petticord and Officer Charles Russell were shot near 24th Street and Indianapolis Avenue after the officers stopped two men for questioning. Both officers were rushed to a local hospital where Officer Russell died a short time later and Officer Petticord succumbed to his wounds two days later. One of the suspects was apprehended the next day and subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On February 8, 1907, he was the last person to be executed by hanging in the state before the method was replaced by electrocution. The second suspect was shot and killed on August 25, 1908, during a shootout with the sheriff and deputies of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department in Kentucky. Officer Petticord had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by two sisters and a brother.

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.
Officer Petticord gave the Indianapolis Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Petticord.

— 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 October 2, 1906
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edward is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1906, 89 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Edward had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Officer Edward J. Petticord

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch October 2, 1906

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-W

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