How to honor the deceased John Durm, a deputy for Marion County

Indianapolis, Indiana – a long-serving public worker who has improved Marion County’s legacy for almost 40 years. That’s how those who worked with Deputy John Durm describe him.

In addition to his transportation van, which is preserved at 675 Justice Way, a memorial honoring Durm has been erected outside the Community Justice Center.

That developed following the escorted transfer of Durm’s body from Eskenazi Hospital to the Marion County Coroner’s Office, which now has a guard on duty around-the-clock.

Durm, 61, worked for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for 38 years as a jail deputy. Kerry Forestal, the sheriff, claims that both his wife and two sons are currently serving in the military abroad. In order to follow in his father’s footsteps, his other son began working as a correctional deputy.

“John’s just a good guy, he really was,” Forestal said. “I mean, 38 years. You can’t give that much law enforcement to your community and it not have meant something. And to pass it on to his family, and his brothers. I mean, there’s law enforcement all across his family.”

Durm passed away after being attacked by a prisoner he was escorting to the Criminal Justice Center from Eskenazi Hospital.

Durm’s passing marks Indiana’s third officer fatality in the line of duty in less than two weeks.

While pursuing a stolen car, Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith was struck and killed by a suspect vehicle. A Perry County Memorial Hospital suspect shot and killed Tell City Police Department Sgt. Heather Glenn.