Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Edward Blakely was gunned down at County Road 475 West and U.S. 30 by a murder suspect. The suspect had shot and wounded a man outside of a Gary tavern and stole his car. When the car broke down, he killed a Hobart Township resident outside his home and stole his car. Patrolman Blakely was called to investigate when the suspect got the car stuck in a ditch. Patrolman Blakely was found shot to death beside the stolen car. He was killed with a 16-gauge shotgun taken from the trunk of the murdered resident's automobile. The suspect was captured in Gary after crashing Patrolman Blakely's patrol car a few hours later. The suspect, a 20-year-old ex-convict and dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps, said he was so drunk that he could not remember anything. On March 14, 1962, a judge committed him to a mental hospital in Westville. In 1968, he was deemed fit to stand trial, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. In 1972, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered a new trial. On June 20, 1973, he was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled in 1988. Patrolman Blakely had served with the Porter County Sheriff's Department for three years and previously served with the Chesterton Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, three brothers, sister, and four grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-54F96E92- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Blakely gave the Porter County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Valparaiso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Blakely.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Edward J. Blakely 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 Porter County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward J. Blakely's cause is highlighted.
How Edward J. Blakely Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroles in 1988
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward J. Blakely is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward J. Blakely was killed by shotgun; 16 gauge.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Porter County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
