Detective Sergeant Carl Heckman was shot and killed while he and another officer were investigating a series of recent laundry truck robberies.

   Upon observing a parked laundry truck, they approached the two male occupants and a gunbattle erupted. After one subject shot Detective Sergeant Heckman in the head, killing him, the other officer returned fire before the shooter fled the scene.

   A 26-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene, later pleaded guilty to robbery and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

   The 31-year-old shooter was apprehended six months later in Atlanta, Georgia and extradited to Indiana. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On October 1, 1934, he was executed by electrocution at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.

   Detective Sergeant Heckman was survived by his wife, 1½- and 6-year-old sons and 3-year-old daughter.

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