Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Joseph Lecak was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a gas line explosion and fire in the downtown district of Homestead.
Patrolman Lecak was off duty and at home with his family when the dry cleaning store next to his apartment building exploded, causing a major fire.
He evacuated his wife and children to the home of a friend and was returning to the scene to provide assistance when his vehicle went out of control and crashed through the front window of a furniture store on East Eighth Avenue. He was transported to Homestead Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Patrolman Lecak had served with the Homestead Police Department for 25 years and had previously served with the United States Army during World War II.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-23651ADD- 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 Lecak gave the Homestead Borough Police Department 25 years.
Thank you for your service to the Homestead community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph G. Lecak served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Joseph G. Lecak 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 Homestead Borough Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph G. Lecak's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph G. Lecak Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph G. Lecak is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Homestead Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
