Orville E. Quinnette
Agency patch
Sergeant

Orville E. Quinnette

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
End of Watch December 18, 1935
Age 33
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 70 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Orville Quinnette was shot and killed by two holdup men during a shootout on North Park Avenue. Both had escaped from a prison work farm the previous day. Both suspects, 26 and 28, were later arrested and sentenced to life in prison. In 1951 the Indiana Supreme Court granted both a new trial. They were again found guilty of murder and sent back to prison for life. In 1961 they were released after a judge ruled they had been misrepresented at trial. On February 16, 1962, they both were involved in a gun battle with police in Lafayette after robbing a store. Rather than being taken alive, one shot and killed himself. The other suspect surrendered, was convicted of armed robbery, and sent back to prison for 12 years. Sergeant Quinnette had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, mother, sister and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

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

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1935
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Orville 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1935, 154 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Orville was 33. 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. Orville 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

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. 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, Orville among them.

Across the years

Sergeant Orville E. Quinnette

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch December 18, 1935

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-W

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