Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Ernest Malatinka was found dead of a gunshot wound inside the Robertsdale substation.
The following month, Sergeant Malatinka's death was ruled accidental as gun-cleaning materials were found on his desk and he had apparently been shot with the shotgun he had been cleaning.
Sergeant Malatinka had served with the Hammond Police Department for 17 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-391022A0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ernest. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Malatinka gave the Hammond Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hammond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Malatinka.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Ernest J. Malatinka is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,775 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 Hammond Police Department, 1 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 12.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest J. Malatinka's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest J. Malatinka Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest J. Malatinka is highlighted in Dec.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Hammond Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
