Officer Elmer Anderson was accidentally shot by his partner when the two officers were attacked by a vicious dog in a neighborhood.

   The officers responded to a call of a dog that had bitten a 13-year-old boy in his front yard. Upon their arrival, the dog darted at the officers as they got off their motorcycles.

   When the dog got between them, Officer Anderson jumped aside at the same time his partner fired a shot towards the dog. The round struck Officer Anderson in the back and passed through his stomach.

   He was taken to City Hospital where he died two days later in the early morning. The coroner ruled his death accidental and exonerated his partner of blame in the incident.

   Officer Anderson was survived by his wife and 4-year-old daughter.

The responsibilities of the Indianapolis Police Department (1854–2006) are now under the jurisdiction of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.