Beech Grove Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Tuesday, May 28, 1991
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: 15
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: May 28, 1991
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Guilty of reckless driving
Lieutenant Thomas Kleis was killed in an automobile crash during a high-speed chase.
He lost control of his patrol car and hit a row of trees at the 5600 block of Shelbyville Road at 3:20 am.
The juvenile who fled from the police was found guilty of reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to six years.
Lieutenant Kleis was United States Vietnam War and Indiana National Guard veteran and had served with the Beech Grove Police Department for 17 years. He was survived by his wife, stepson, stepdaughter, mother, father, and two brothers.