Officer Teresa Hawkins was killed in an accident while she was responding to assist an ambulance crew with a patient.

   As she responded northbound on Emerson Avenue to the call at 38th Street, her squad car was struck on the driver's side door by an intoxicated driver who ran a stop sign on eastbound 36th Street, pushing her squad car into a utility pole. She was transported to Wishard Memorial Hospital where she died two hours later.

   The 21-year-old suspect, who initially fled the scene on foot, later pleaded guilty to felony charges of reckless homicide, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death and driving with a blood-alcohol content over the legal limit causing death. The offender was sentenced to eight years in prison and was discharged in 2001.

   Officer Hawkins was assigned to the East District. She was single and survived by her parents, four brothers and four sisters.

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