John F. Buchanan
Agency patch
Officer

John F. Buchanan

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
End of Watch July 9, 1926
Age 31
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 352
The Vigil Panel 51 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer John Buchanan was shot and killed through a closet door by a suspect the officers were chasing. As Officer Buchanan stood outside the door and ordered the man out the suspect opened fire. The suspect was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to two to 21 years in prison. The man died in 1971. Officer Buchanan had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqeatsagcd4kxd47k2z6
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Buchanan gave the Indianapolis Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Buchanan.

— 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 July 9, 1926
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 352
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 31. 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. John had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Officer John F. Buchanan

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch July 9, 1926

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W

↑