Gary Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Saturday, January 31, 1953
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 24, 1953
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Paroled
Detective Elza O'Dell succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered one week earlier when he and his partner tried to arrest a subject at 1225 Washington Street.
The officers had responded after the man's ex-wife complained he had come to her house with a knife. They followed the subject into a building and confronted him, at which time he shot Detective O'Dell five times. The suspect was shot three times by Detective O'Dell and later charged with murder. Detective O'Dell, who was shot in the throat, abdomen, and right leg, lingered for a week before he died from his injuries.
The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two to 21 years in prison. He was paroled in 1960 with the condition that he return to Puerto Rico.
Detective O'Dell had served with the Gary Police Department for 17 years. He was Lake County's first African American police officer killed in the line of duty. He was survived by his wife and child.