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Incident
Patrolman Walter Poturalski was killed when the motorcycle he was riding hit a stone and fell in front of a funeral cortege, one-half mile from the cemetery. Patrolman Poturalski had served with the Gary Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Patrolman Poturalski gave the Gary Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gary community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Poturalski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Gary Police Department has lost 15 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Walter is one of 151 officers lost to accidents in IN, 30% of the 503 remembered there.
Walter is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Walter is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1935, 1 officer at Gary Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1935, 3 officers in IN were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 85 years on record. The heaviest was 1942, with 4.
In 1935, 99 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1935, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Walter was 31. Of the 4 lost to accidents at Gary Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30.3 and 33; the middle age was 32. Walter had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 4.9 years.
Walter was 31. Of the 149 lost to accidents in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47; the middle age was 36. Walter had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 4.6 years.
Walter was 31. 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. Walter had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Walter was 31. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Walter had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 60% of these deaths at Gary Police Department, more than any other month. Thursdays: 20%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths in IN; December holds the most, 11.3%. Thursdays: 8.6%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 33.3% of all 15 deaths at Gary Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 503 deaths in IN, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Gary Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Walter among them.
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Edward Wilson Sep 9, 1913
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Julius Gunther
Sep 16, 1921
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Pearl Agnes Lanham
Mar 12, 1930
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James L. Kelly
Mar 31, 1932
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Walter Poturalski
Aug 8, 1935
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Elza O'Dell
Jan 31, 1953
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John Edward Moore
Aug 4, 1955
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Michael G. Rusnak
Jun 11, 1966
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George W. Lowe, Sr.
Jun 2, 1970
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James R. Boyce, Jr.
Oct 5, 1974
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George Yaros
Aug 11, 1981
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Dorian David Rorex
Jan 15, 1998
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Louis William Donald, Jr.
Aug 27, 2001
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Benjamin Wilcher, Jr.
Aug 12, 2007
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Jeffrey Brady Westerfield
Jul 6, 2014
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Gary Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
