Lieutenant
Thomas L. Kleis
Beech Grove Police Department
Tuesday, May 28, 1991

Age: 43
Served: 17 years
Badge #: 15
Panel 2E, Line 18
Panel L33, Line 5

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Vehicle pursuit
Date/Time of Incident:
Tuesday, May 28, 1991
03:20 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
5634 Shelbyville Road, Indianapolis
Incident County:
Marion
Incident Township:
Franklin
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
Discharged in 1998
Burial Place:
Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Greenwood

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   Lieutenant Thomas Kleis was killed in a single-vehicle accident during a high-speed pursuit.

   He lost control of his patrol car and hit a row of trees on Shelbyville Road near Edgewood Avenue.

   A 16-year-old male suspect, later convicted of reckless homicide and resisting law enforcement, was sentenced to six years in prison. After violating probation, he was sentenced to two years and subsequently was discharged in 1998.

   Lieutenant Kleis was survived by his wife, stepson, stepdaughter, mother, father and two brothers.

Military Service


United States Army
Vietnam War
1969–1970

Historical Note

• The 16-year-old offender is the eighth-youngest known to be involved in a line of duty death in Indiana.




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