John J. Gerka, Jr.

Hammond Police Dept. — Hammond, IN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 11, 1947

Age 36

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 83 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Patrolman John Gerka was training two rookie officers when he went to investigate a suspicious car parked on Cleveland Street near Kenwood School. As Patrolman Gerka walked to the side of the auto, a man leaned out and shot him at point-blank range, hitting him in the heart with a .45-caliber bullet. One of the rookies, Patrolman Donald Cook, was also shot and died two days later. The second rookie disarmed the shooter by wrestling his pistol from him, but was struck on the head by a second man and knocked to the ground. A manhunt combed the area, then the state, looking for both suspects. Sometime later, Hammond detectives arrested two suspects for the crimes. Both suspects were convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On February 23, 1949, both men were executed by electrocution. Patrolman Gerka had served in the U.S. Army during World War II and served with the Hammond Police Department for over one year.

Survivors

He is survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-04087C22
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 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 Gerka gave the Hammond Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Hammond 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 Hammond Police Dept.

Location Hammond, IN

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

Service Record

End of Watch January 11, 1947

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 2 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Executed in 1949

Military Service

John J. Gerka, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman John J. Gerka, 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 Hammond Police Dept., 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 Dept.

of 8 officers

75% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious