Elmer C. Anderson
Agency patch
Officer

Elmer C. Anderson

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Accident
End of Watch January 15, 1915
Age 28
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 54
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Elmer Anderson was accidentally shot by his partner when the two officers were attacked by a dog. The officers had responded to a call about a vicious dog and as they got off their motorcycles the dog darted at the officers. When Officer Anderson jumped aside, his partner fired a shot towards the dog, but the round struck Officer Anderson's back and passed through his stomach. Officer Anderson was transported to a local hospital where he died the following morning. Officer Anderson had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 4-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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 Anderson gave the Indianapolis Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Anderson.

— 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 January 15, 1915
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Elmer is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1915, 28 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 116th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Elmer was 28. 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. Elmer had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.

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

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

Across the years

Officer Elmer C. Anderson

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch January 15, 1915

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W

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