James L. Kelly

Gary Police Department — Gary, IN

Felonious

End of Watch March 31, 1932

Age 33

The Vigil Panel 64 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Detective James Kelly was shot and killed in Oak Park, Illinois, while investigating several armed robberies in Gary and Hammond. Upon receiving information the gang responsible for these crimes was headquartered at 37 Harrison Street, Detective Kelly and an Oak Park detective entered the apartment building. Although the primary suspect was not there, three other suspects were arrested and their weapons confiscated. As the officers walked the men to a nearby corner with a patrol box, one suspect drew a second concealed revolver. Detective Kelly was shot and killed, while the Oak Park detective was wounded, but was able to return fire injuring another suspect. Two of the suspects were held, but the shooter fled the scene. On April 16, he and another gang member were arrested in Newark, Ohio, after robbing two theater messengers of $400 in Zanesville the night before. The shooter pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for being spared the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison on June 3, 1932. Detective Kelly was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Portage, Indiana.

Survivors

Detective Kelly was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-9AAAC5F6
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 Kelly served with the Gary Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gary community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Kelly.

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

Agency

Department Gary Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Gary, Lake County, IN

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 31, 1932

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Detective James L. Kelly 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 97,772 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.

Gary Police Department

of 15 officers

66.7% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious