Vigo County Sheriff's Office, Indiana
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 1, 1987
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: 84-12
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 1, 1987
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Sergeant Walter Artz was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance.
As officers attempted to calm the man down at the back door of the home the man suddenly began firing, fatally wounding Sergeant Artz. Officers returned fire and wounded the man, who then committed suicide.
Sergeant Artz had served with the Vigo County Sheriff's Department for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.