Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Benjamin Wilcher was killed when another patrol car collided with his patrol car during a vehicle pursuit.
Both officers were involved in a high-speed pursuit of a suspect who had stolen his girlfriend's vehicle after forcing her out of the car. Patrolman Wilcher was traveling eastbound on 35th Avenue when his patrol car was broadsided by the other officer who was traveling southbound on Virginia Street. The injured officers were transported to Northlake Methodist Hospital before Patrolman Wilcher was flown to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, Illinois, where he died during surgery.
The suspect was arrested a half-hour later after officers found him hiding in the attic at the girlfriend's house. He was charged with auto theft, carjacking, resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor battery.
Patrolman Wilcher had served with the Gary Police Department for over 1½ years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, 2-year-old and 2-month-old sons, parents, sister and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-27BD8A03- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Patrolman Wilcher gave the Gary Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Gary community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Wilcher.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Benjamin Wilcher Jr. is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Gary Police Department, 5 of 15 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin Wilcher Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Benjamin Wilcher Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin Wilcher Jr. is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Gary Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
