Roll of Honor
Incident
Policewoman Pearl Lanham was struck and killed by a car after assisting children cross a street near the Glen Park Elementary School at 39th and Broadway. At 2:30 pm, Policewoman Lanham had just escorted three children across Broadway and was returning for several other children when she was struck by a car traveling southbound. She was dragged some 50 feet before the driver brought his car to a stop, resulting in her suffering a crushed skull and broken limbs, and died before the arrival of an ambulance. Policewoman Lanham had served with the Gary Police Department for only two months. She was survived by her husband, four young daughters, mother, sister and three brothers. Policewoman Lanham is the first known female law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty in the state of Indiana. She is buried at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrivlle, Indiana.
Survivors
She was survived by her husband, four young daughters, mother, sister and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-DAE24550- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policewoman Lanham served with the Gary Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gary community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policewoman Lanham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policewoman Pearl Agnes Lanham is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In IN, 152 of 504 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.2% of this state's fallen. That is 30.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Gary Police Department, 5 of 15 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Pearl Agnes Lanham's cause is highlighted.
How Pearl Agnes Lanham Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Pearl Agnes Lanham is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Gary Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
