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Joseph Palczynski Sr.
Agency patch
Captain

Joseph Palczynski Sr.

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Cardiac
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch March 5, 1935
Age 73
Tour of Duty 49 yrs 7 mo
The Vigil Panel 152 · Column 2 · Line 21 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Captain Joseph Palczynski suffered a fatal heart attack during a large fight in the Women's Courtroom at 1121 South State Street in Chicago.

Captain Palczynski was working in the Women's Courtroom when a fight broke out. During the melee, Captain Palczynski pushed into the crowd attempting to restore the peace. While doing so, he suffered a fatal heart attack after being shoved to the floor and trampled by several rioters. He was carried into the judge's chambers and later pronounced dead at the scene.

A bailiff and two subjects in the fight were shot and wounded. Thirty-eight policemen, bailiffs, and subjects had minor injuries. No charges were filed in connection with Captain Palcynski's death.

Captain Palczynski had served with the Chicago Police Department for over 49 years and was assigned to the Detective Bureau.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

49 years. You could have gone home.
Captain Palczynski gave the Chicago Police Department 49 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Palczynski.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 5, 1935
Tour of Duty 49 yrs 7 mo
Age 73
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Joseph is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1935, 4 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 92nd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 73. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Joseph had served 49.6 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.6% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Tuesdays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Captain Joseph Palczynski Sr.

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch March 5, 1935

Where the Name Is Cut

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