Joseph John Jurcak

Erie Police Department — Erie, PA

Accident

End of Watch October 16, 1918

Age 38

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 35 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 13

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Jurcak was struck and killed by a switch engine at the Pennsylvania Railroad crossing on 12th Street while making his rounds.

He had checked in by pulling on a callbox at 15th Street and Ash Street at 12:56 am, but failed to check in again at 2:00 am. His body was located by a railroad worker at approximately 5:30 am. It is believed that he accidentally stepped in front of the switch engine, which was following a train leaving the rail yards.

Patrolman Jurcak served with the Erie Police Department for two years and was survived by his wife, mother, and brother.

Survivors

Patrolman Jurcak served with the Erie Police Department for two years and was survived by his wife, mother, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-11C43D8C
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 Jurcak gave the Erie Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Erie community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Jurcak.

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

Agency

Department Erie Police Department

Location Erie, PA

Platform Identity epd.erie.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 16, 1918

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 2 mo

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman Joseph John Jurcak is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Erie Police Department, 3 of 14 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 21.4% of this agency's fallen.

Erie Police Department

of 14 officers

21.4% Accident

PA — Statewide

417

of 1,261 officers

33.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident