Schererville Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Saturday, February 24, 1973
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 3 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: February 24, 1973
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman James Wittchen was checking on a report of a burglary in progress and was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow officer who mistook him for an armed burglar in the night shadows.
Patrolman Wittchen had served with the Schererville Police Department for 3½ years.