Patrolman Robert L. Gallowitch

Robert L. Gallowitch

Patrolman Robert L. Gallowitch was shot and fatally wounded while responding to a robbery call at a jewelry store. Upon arrival, Officer Gallowitch discovered three gunmen disguised as telephone repairmen. The offenders kidnapped a telephone truck driver and were using the stolen truck when robbing a jewelry store. As Officer Gallowitch confronted the three offenders in the alley, the gunmen began shooting. Officer Gallowitch sustained fatal gunshot wounds from one of them during the encounter.

Patrolman Gallowitch's killer was arrested, convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 to 40 years. In 1975, he applied for clemency, because he had a deadly kidney disease, but was denied. In 1982 he applied again and was approved because of his poor health, but an court of appeals judge overruled the decision and kept him in prison.

Patrolman Gallowitch was survived by his wife and two children.