Lawrence J. Pucalik

Hammond Police Department — Hammond, IN

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch November 14, 1980

Age 33

Tour of Duty 6 yrs 9 mo

The Vigil Panel 123 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Patrolman Lawrence Pucalik was shot and killed while working an off-duty security job at a local hotel at 3:00 am. While in an office nearby, he heard a commotion at the front desk as several armed suspects entered and attempted to rob the hotel clerk. As Patrolman Pucalik came out of the office with his gun drawn the suspects opened fire, striking him in the neck. In July 2012, 31 years after his murder, three suspects were arrested and charged with murdering Patrolman Pucalik. Patrolman Pucalik had served with the Hammond Police Department for over 6-1/2 years. He was scheduled to receive his department's ''Top Gun'' award later in the day.

Survivors

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-4747D817
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Lawrence is one person.

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Tributes

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

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

Agency

Department Hammond Police Department

Type Other

Location Hammond, Lake County, IN

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

Service Record

End of Watch November 14, 1980

Tour of Duty 6 yrs 9 mo

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Lawrence J. Pucalik served in the U.S. Navy (1967â1968) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Lawrence J. Pucalik 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 Hammond Police Department, 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Hammond Police Department

of 8 officers

75% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious