Chief Marshal
James Rodger Kautz
Long Beach Police Department
Thursday, December 4, 1997

Age: 55
Served: 20 years, 3 months
Badge #:
Panel 45E, Line 20
Panel L8, Line 5

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Struck by vehicle
Date/Time of Incident:
Tuesday, November 4, 1997
05:45 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
30 days
Incident Location:
U.S. 12 east of State Road 212, Michigan City
Incident County:
LaPorte
Incident Township:
Michigan
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
Acquitted
Burial Place:
Greenwood Cemetery, Michigan City

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   Chief Marshal James Kautz died one month after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic.

   He was assisting Michigan City police with a three-vehicle accident on U.S. 12, east of State Road 212 near the Golden Sands Motel, when he was struck.

   Chief Marshal Kautz was initially taken to St. Anthony Hospital with multiple fractures and internal injuries. He was transferred to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where his right leg was amputated and suffered a massive stroke before he died a month later.

   The 29-year-old driver was charged with reckless homicide and later acquitted by a jury.

   Chief Marshal Kautz was survived by his wife.

Military Service


United States Army
Vietnam War


Bronze Star Medal (3)


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Long Beach Police Department

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