K-9 Graphic (Small)

Fallen K-9 Officers

TOTAL K-9 LINE OF DUTY DEATHS KNOWN TO DATE – 21
TOTAL AGENCIES WITH K-9 LINE OF DUTY DEATHS – 17

K-9 Graphic (Small)

K-9 Line of Duty Death Statistics

First K-9 Line of Duty Deaths
Marion County K-9 Xito – 1988
Marion County K-9 Ando – 1988
Beech Grove K-9 Rambo – 1995

First Female K-9 Line of Duty Death
Whitley County K-9 Castorka – 2019

By Gender
Male – 20
Female – 1
By Decade
1988-1989 – 2
1990-1999 – 3
2000-2009 – 3
2010-2019 – 11
2020-2023 – 2
By Cause of Death
Animal related – 1
Gunfire – 8
Gunfire (Accidental) – 3
Heat exhaustion – 4
Struck by vehicle – 2
Training accident – 1
Vehicular assault – 2

K-9 Ajax

Lake County Sheriff’s Department
Wednesday, April 30, 1997
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Incident County: Lake
Handler: Detective Dan Murchek

K-9 Ando

Marion County Sheriff’s Department
Monday, September 19, 1988
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Incident County: Marion
Handler: Deputy Sheriff Paul Thompson

K-9 Arco

Marion County Sheriff’s Department
Monday, July 11, 2005
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Incident County: Marion
Handler: Corporal Mark Archer

K-9 Assuan

Marion Police Department
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Cause of Death: Training accident
Incident County: Grant
Handler: Officer James Meyerchick

K-9 Cade

Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Cause of Death: Heat exhaustion
Incident County: Hendricks
Handlers: Deputy Sheriff Samuel Chandler
and Deputy Sheriff Shaun Caffee

K-9 Castorka

Whitley County Sheriff’s Department
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Incident County: Whitley
Handler: Deputy Sheriff Gary Archbold

K-9 Derrek

Evansville Police Department
Saturday, August 8, 1998
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Incident County: Vanderburgh
Handler: Sergeant David Molinet

K-9 Diesel

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Incident County: Bartholomew
Handler: Deputy Sheriff Joshua “Matt” Bush

K-9 Falco

Gary Police Department
Thursday, July 13, 2023
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Incident County: Lake
Handler: Corporal Angel Lozano

K-9 Fax

Lake County Sheriff’s Department
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Cause of Death: Animal related
Incident County: Lake
Handler: Officer Brian Harpp

K-9 Harlej

Fishers Police Department
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Incident County: Hamilton
Handler: Officer Jarred Koopman

K-9 Kilo

Anderson Police Department
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Incident County: Madison
Handler: Officer Marty Dulworth (wounded)

K-9 Kilo

Indiana State Police
Monday, June 24, 2013
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Incident County: Clark
Handler: Trooper Nathan Abbott

K-9 Magnum

Anderson Police Department
Monday, August 20, 2012
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Incident County: Madison
Handler: Officer Matt Jarrett

K-9 Mojo

DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Cause of Death: Heat exhaustion
Incident County: DeKalb
Handler: Officer Courtney Fuller

K-9 Rambo

Beech Grove Police Department
Monday, June 5, 1995
Cause of Death: Heat exhaustion
Incident County: Marion
Handler: Officer Kevin Quinn

K-9 Ricky

Mishawaka Police Department
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Incident County: St. Joseph
Handler: Corporal James Szuba (killed)

K-9 Trax

Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department
Friday, November 4, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Incident County: Vanderburgh
Handler: Deputy Sheriff Kevin Hertweck

K-9 Tyson

Fountain County Sheriff’s Department
Monday, June 27, 2016
Cause of Death: Heat exhaustion
Incident County: Fountain
Handler: Deputy Sheriff Andrew Krout

 K-9 Valco

Indianapolis Police Department
Monday, July 17, 2000
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Incident County: Marion
Handler: Officer James Thomas Jr.

 K-9 Xito

Marion County Sheriff’s Department
Sunday, July 3, 1988
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Incident County: Marion
Handler: Deputy Sheriff Gary Davidson

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