Marshal James E. "Red" Larimer, St. John Police Department, Indiana

Marshal James E. "Red" Larimer

St. John Police Department, Indiana

End of Watch Saturday, February 20, 1971

James E. "Red" Larimer

Marshal James Larimer and Indiana State Trooper John Streu were shot and killed while arresting two suspects for kidnapping, robbery and auto theft.

At 7:00 am, the two officers had responded to a report of two suspicious men sleeping in a vehicle behind Kolling Elementary School. The officers handcuffed one of the men and placed him in the cruiser when the second man opened fire, striking Marshal Larimer.

Trooper Streu returned fire, striking the subject. He then left his gun in the front seat and went to the aid of Marshal Larimer. When he did so the handcuffed man reached over the seat, picked up Trooper Streu's weapon, and shot him. One man, who had escaped from a penal farm, was sentenced to two life terms and died in prison in 2009. The other man was sentenced to life in prison and was denied parole several times. He subsequently died in prison in 2015.

Marshal Larimer had served with the St. John Police Department for eight years and had previously served with the Hammond Police Department for 22 years. He was survived by his wife and son.

Bio

Age 56
Tour 30 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .25 caliber
Offender Died in prison

Most Recent Reflection

View all 15 Reflections

We are mourning today at his funeral, the shooting death of a brave young police office, Deputy Heath Gumm of Adams County Sheriff's Department, Colorado. His death brought back the memory of the tragic and senseless killing, in a similar incident, of Marshall James Larimer in our town of St. John, Indiana in 1971. He was a wonderful man, a brave man, and one of the heroes of my youth.
Never forgotten, with the deep sadness of his loss.

Michael J Scheidt, COL USA Ret.

February 2, 2018