Hammond Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Saturday, December 29, 1984
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: December 29, 1984
Weapon Used: Officer's shotgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Ernest Malatinka was found dead of a gunshot wound inside the Robertsdale substation.
The following month, Sergeant Malatinka's death was ruled accidental as gun-cleaning materials were found on his desk and he had apparently been shot with the shotgun he had been cleaning.
Sergeant Malatinka had served with the Hammond Police Department for 17 years.