Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Elza O'Dell succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered one week earlier when he and his partner tried to arrest a subject at 1225 Washington Street. The officers had responded after the man's ex-wife complained he had come to her house with a knife. They followed the subject into a building and confronted him, at which time he shot Detective O'Dell five times. The suspect was shot three times by Detective O'Dell and later charged with murder. Detective O'Dell, who was shot in the throat, abdomen, and right leg, lingered for a week before he died from his injuries. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two to 21 years in prison. He was paroled in 1960 with the condition that he return to Puerto Rico. Detective O'Dell had served with the Gary Police Department for 17 years. He was Lake County's first African American police officer killed in the line of duty.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-3B3CCE67- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective O'Dell gave the Gary Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gary community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective O'Dell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Elza O'Dell is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,775 officers honored here.
In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Gary Police Department, 10 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elza O'Dell's cause is highlighted.
How Elza O'Dell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elza O'Dell is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elza O'Dell was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Gary Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
