Elwood Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch Tuesday, July 5, 1932
Add to My HeroesWillard S. Van Horn
Patrolman Willard Van Horn was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect in a home at 1043 N 14th Street.
The suspect and another man had robbed a service station in Muncie and had abducted the attendant. Muncie detectives learned that the suspects may have gone to Elwood and went to the city to investigate.
One of the Muncie detectives accompanied Patrolman Van Horn and another patrolman to a home where they believed one of the suspects was hiding. The Muncie detective went to the front door and the two Elwood patrolmen went to the back door. As the patrolmen entered the house the suspect immediately opened fire on them, striking Patrolman Van Horn. Although mortally wounded, Patrolman Van Horn was able to return fire and shot the suspect. The man died of his wounds the following day. The second suspect was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison for his part in the original robbery.
Patrolman Van Horn was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and had served with the Elwood Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife and three children.
Bio
- Age 44
- Tour 3 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsCondolences to his family and his loved ones
Carson loveless
February 6, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths

Patrol Deputy Antonio Aleman
Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, NM
EOW: July 8, 2025

Officer Miguel Cano
California Highway Patrol, CA
EOW: July 2, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Devin Mason
Darlington County Sheriff's Office, SC
EOW: July 1, 2025

Detention Officer Francisco Paul Flattes
Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: June 30, 2025

Police Officer Kelvin Patrick
Detroit Police Department, MI
EOW: February 6, 2025

Supervisory Special Agent Dennis M. Wagner, Jr.
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, US
EOW: March 5, 2025

Police Officer Kendall Corder
Milwaukee Police Department, WI
EOW: June 29, 2025

Undersheriff Brandon Gaede
Phillips County Sheriff's Office, KS
EOW: June 27, 2025

Sergeant Shiou Deng
Los Angeles Police Department, CA
EOW: June 23, 2025