Officer Clinton Maxwell Osthimer, Wabash Police Department, Indiana

Officer Clinton Maxwell Osthimer

Wabash Police Department, Indiana

End of Watch Tuesday, January 19, 1943

Clinton Maxwell Osthimer

Officer Clinton Osthimer was shot and killed after making a traffic stop.

Officer Osthimer and another officer had stopped a vehicle for running a stop sign and drunken driving after a short pursuit. The suspect was arrested and while being transported to the jail, he produced a .38-caliber semi-automatic revolver.

The suspect then shot Officer Osthimer in the throat severing his jugular vein and attempted to shoot the other officer, but the gun jammed. When the other officer knocked the gun from the suspect's hand, he exited the squad car and fled on foot, but was recaptured about two blocks away. Officer Osthimer was transported to Wabash County Hospital and was dead on arrival.

At the time of his arrest, unknown to the officers, the suspect was driving a stolen vehicle, wanted for larceny and was absent without leave from the military. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The suspect escaped from prison in 1969, but was found living under an assumed name in Alabama 10 years later. While awaiting extradition to Indiana, the suspect died.

Officer Osthimer had served with the Wabash Police Department for four years.

Bio

Age 34
Tour 4 years
Badge 7

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Died in 1979

Most Recent Reflection

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When I was hired as a patrolman to the Wabash Police Dept in 1953, by Chief Zeno Mallot, he drove me in the squad car to the exact spot where this officer was shot, as he stated that he was the other officer riding with him at that time. I could tell he was very upset, just talking about it. The shooter fled Eastward up an ally across from the Courthouse on Wabash Street hill. He said, the shooter was riding in the back seat, and somehow reached over the seat , taking one of their revolvers, shooting, then running up the ally Eastward. I loved & enjoyed all of those I worked with, back then, and pray for those here today.

George E. Rhoads (86) in Feb.
Retired--from GM

January 26, 2017