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ODMP Remembers...

Patrolman James R. Gary Police Department, Indiana

Patrolman

James R. "J.R." Boyce, Jr.

Gary Police Department, Indiana

End of Watch: Saturday, October 5, 1974

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 32

Tour: 6 years

Badge # 642

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 10/5/1974

Weapon: Gun; Unknown type

Suspect: Sentenced to life

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Patrolman J.R. Boyce was off duty returning home from his shift when he was shot and killed after he responded to a robbery-in-progress at Jackson's Steak House on Dunes Highway. He was shot several times as two suspects exited the restaurant's side door.

The suspects were apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. One offender was killed in a 1977 escape attempt from the Lake County Jail. Another offender was denied parole on November 2, 2006.

Patrolman Boyce was a second-generation officer with the Gary Police Department and had served for six years. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, mother, and sister. His father had served for 20 years with the department and his son currently serves as chief of police with the Kouts Police Department.

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I talked with J R a short while before he responded to the robbery. He had stopped in a bar owned by Danny McNally on Lake St. in Miller, IN called the "Handle Bar". He was the beat cop in the downtown shopping area and he often would stop in to say "Hi!" to friends he knew that frequented the bar. We were all in a complete state of shock when the news arrived that he was dead. J R was a super guy as well as a credit to the uniform and a stand up guy. He would stop in the bar to see his friends even though I don't think he ever touched alcohol. Always upbeat with nothing but kind words for whomever he talked to. Many of his friends were aware that his father, a Gary, IN police officer, was also killed in the line of duty responding to a domestic dispute. I think of J R on many occasions and I'm glad I discovered this memorial so I could jot a few words.

May God bless your soul and give you peace.

John "Jack" Martin
Friend
December 6, 2010

 

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