James R. "J.R." Boyce, Jr.

Gary Police Department — Gary, IN

Felonious

End of Watch October 5, 1974

Age 32

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Badge 642

The Vigil Panel 114 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Patrolman J.R. Boyce was off duty returning home from his shift when he was shot and killed after he responded to a robbery-in-progress at Jackson's Steak House on Dunes Highway. He was shot several times as two suspects exited the restaurant's side door. The suspects were apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. One offender was killed in a 1977 escape attempt from the Lake County Jail. Another offender was denied parole in 2006 and 2022. Patrolman Boyce was a second-generation officer with the Gary Police Department and had served for six years. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, mother, and sister. His father had served for 20 years with the department and his son currently serves as chief of police with the Kouts Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, mother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-6EB62DA9
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Boyce gave the Gary Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gary community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Boyce.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Gary Police Department

Location Gary, IN

Platform Identity garypd.lake.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 5, 1974

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 32

Badge Number 642

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Patrolman James R. "J.R." Boyce, Jr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Gary Police Department

of 15 officers

66.7% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious