James William Utz
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

James William Utz

Terre Haute Police Department — Terre Haute, IN
Accident
End of Watch September 15, 1981
Age 40
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
The Vigil Panel 124 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant James Utz was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a vehicle at 3rd and Mulberry streets.

Detective Sergeant Utz had served with the Terre Haute Police Department for 14 years.

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.
Detective Sergeant Utz gave the Terre Haute Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Terre Haute community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Utz.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Terre Haute, Vigo County, IN
Platform Identity thpd.vigo.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 15, 1981
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1981, 63 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. James had served 14 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 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Terre Haute Police Department has 14 officers remembered here, James among them.

Detective Sergeant James William Utz

Terre Haute Police Department · End of Watch September 15, 1981

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 51-E

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