Thomas M. Mitchell

East Chicago Police Department — East Chicago, IN

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 23, 1923

Age 38

Tour of Duty 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 45 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Mitchell and Patrolman Robert Kucken were killed after responding to a disturbance shortly after midnight at a local dance hall at 4730 McCook Avenue. The gathering place had erupted into gunfire when a patron drew his revolver and began firing, killing one patron and wounding others. The suspect then fled through the back door. Both officers were called in to assist in captuing the suspect and upon spotting him near Chicago Avenue & Railroad Avenue, commanded him to halt. The suspect instead opened fire on the officers, both of whom returned fire. Patrolman Robert Kucken was killed almost instantly. Patrolman Mitchell was able to fire back and deliever fatal shots to the suspect who was captured and died from his wounds the next day. Patrolman Mitchell, a WWI Army veteran, was taken to the hospital but ultimately succumbed to his own wounds the following day as well.

Survivors

He was survived by his sister and other family.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-EF703D99
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. Army. One record, 2 gates. Thomas is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Mitchell served with the East Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the East Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department East Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location East Chicago, Lake County, IN

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

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1923

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Thomas M. Mitchell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Thomas M. Mitchell 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In IN, 311 of 504 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At East Chicago Police Department, 8 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

East Chicago Police Department

of 8 officers

100% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 504 officers

61.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious