Town Marshal
James Edison 'Red' Larimer
St. John Police Department
Saturday, February 20, 1971

Age: 55
Served: 29 years, 6 months
Badge #:
Panel 41W, Line 12
Panel L6, Line 2

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Saturday, February 20, 1971
06:45 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
8801 Wicker Avenue, St. John
Incident County:
Lake
Incident Township:
St. John
Weapon Used:
.25-caliber handgun
Suspect Disposition:
• Died in prison
• Died in prison
Burial Place:
Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, Schererville

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   Town Marshal James Larimer and Indiana State Trooper John Streu were shot and killed after responding to a report of two suspicious men sleeping in a vehicle behind Kolling Elementary School.

   The officers had handcuffed one of the men and placed him in the cruiser when the second man opened fire, striking Marshal Larimer. Trooper Streu returned fire, wounding the suspect. He then left his gun in the front seat and went to the aid of Marshal Larimer.

   When he did so the handcuffed suspect reached over the seat, picked up Trooper Streu's .357-caliber service weapon, and shot him, Marshal Larimer again and wounded another responding trooper who survived.

   He was taken to Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Dyer where he died an hour later.

   Both suspects had stolen a car from the home of a man in Cincinnati, Ohio, kidnapping and robbing him before he was left at a motel in Rockville.

   The 23-year-old man, who had escaped from the Indiana State Farm near Greencastle three months earlier, was found guilty by a jury on two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to two life terms in prison where he died in 2009.

   The 17-year-old wounded offender was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison where he died in 2015.

   Town Marshal Larimer had previously served with the Hammond Police Department where he retired as a captain after 22 years. He was survived by his wife, son and granddaughter.

  

Military Service


United States Army
World War II

Historical Note

• This incident was one of 24 which resulted in the line of duty deaths of two officers.



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Town Marshal James Edison 'Red' Larimer - St. John Police Department - INLEM.org