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Pearl Agnes Lanham
Agency patch
Policewoman

Pearl Agnes Lanham

Gary Police Department — Gary, IN
Accident
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch March 12, 1930
Age 33
Tour of Duty 2 mo
The Vigil Panel 59 ›
Gender Female
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 14

Incident

Policewoman Pearl Lanham was struck and killed by a car after assisting children cross a street near the Glen Park Elementary School at 39th and Broadway. At 2:30 pm, Policewoman Lanham had just escorted three children across Broadway and was returning for several other children when she was struck by a car traveling southbound. She was dragged some 50 feet before the driver brought his car to a stop, resulting in her suffering a crushed skull and broken limbs, and died before the arrival of an ambulance. Policewoman Lanham had served with the Gary Police Department for only two months. She was survived by her husband, four young daughters, mother, sister and three brothers. Policewoman Lanham is the first known female law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty in the state of Indiana. She is buried at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrivlle, Indiana.

Survivors

She was survived by her husband, four young daughters, mother, sister and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policewoman Lanham served with the Gary Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gary community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policewoman Lanham.

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

Agency

Department Gary Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Gary, Lake County, IN
Platform Identity garypd.lake.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 1930
Tour of Duty 2 mo
Age 33
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Pearl is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1930, 113 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Pearl was 33. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Pearl had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where she stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

Her people

Gary Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Pearl among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policewoman Pearl Agnes Lanham

Gary Police Department · End of Watch March 12, 1930

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-W

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