IUPD officer Lerg remembered as bright, kind

IU Police Department officer James Lerg, 30, was a people person.

That’s how he is remembered by his fellow officers and the people he helped, IU Police Chief Keith Cash said.

“He was always making sure he was doing the right thing to help people,” Cash said.

Lerg died over Memorial Day weekend from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He was found early Saturday morning in the parking lot of Memorial Stadium near his squad car. He did not use a department gun, Cash said.

Lerg came from the Zionsville area to study neuropharmacology at IU as a graduate student, Cash said. He became a cadet with IUPD in 2008. 

Cash said Lerg was on the older side for being a cadet, but that he was a good officer and was well-liked by the rest of the department, which he described as a family.

“He was an exceptionally bright and intelligent young man,” Cash said.

Lerg is survived by his wife and his young daughter. Funeral arrangements are still pending with the family.

— Jake New