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James L. Kelly
Agency patch
Detective

James L. Kelly

Gary Police Department — Gary, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch March 31, 1932
Age 33
The Vigil Panel 64 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 14

Incident

Detective James Kelly was shot and killed in Oak Park, Illinois, while investigating several armed robberies in Gary and Hammond. Upon receiving information the gang responsible for these crimes was headquartered at 37 Harrison Street, Detective Kelly and an Oak Park detective entered the apartment building. Although the primary suspect was not there, three other suspects were arrested and their weapons confiscated. As the officers walked the men to a nearby corner with a patrol box, one suspect drew a second concealed revolver. Detective Kelly was shot and killed, while the Oak Park detective was wounded, but was able to return fire injuring another suspect. Two of the suspects were held, but the shooter fled the scene. On April 16, he and another gang member were arrested in Newark, Ohio, after robbing two theater messengers of $400 in Zanesville the night before. The shooter pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for being spared the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison on June 3, 1932. Detective Kelly was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Portage, Indiana.

Survivors

Detective Kelly was survived by his wife and four children.

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.
Detective Kelly served with the Gary Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gary community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Kelly.

— 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 31, 1932
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 33. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Detective James L. Kelly

Gary Police Department · End of Watch March 31, 1932

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E

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