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Incident
Chief of Police Charles Levy succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered three days earlier while he and three officers attempted to arrest one of Chicago's most notorious criminals. The officers were conducting surveillance of a stolen car on 21st Street when they observed two suspects approach the vehicle. When the officers attempted to arrest the men, shots were fired, and Chief Levy was mortally wounded. The suspect escaped down an alley while the other suspect was arrested. The suspect was wanted on a charge of shooting and wounding a postal inspector in a hotel on Chicago's North Side three weeks earlier. After shooting Chief Levy, he fled to Chicago, where he shot and killed an Oak Park druggist on June 18. Two nights later, he shot and mortally wounded a restaurant owner on Chicago's South Side, stole a car, robbed a drug store, and shot and wounded a policeman who pulled him over. On August 13, he was captured by Chicago police in an apartment on West Jackson Boulevard. The suspect was convicted of the murder of Chief Levy and sentenced to death on October 25, 1929. The Illinois Supreme Court granted him a new trial on April 8, 1931. He was sentenced to life in prison on June 26, 1931, and later died in prison on September 29, 1955, of liver disease.
Survivors
Chief Levy was survived by his wife and five sons.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Levy served with the Berwyn Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Berwyn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Levy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Berwyn Police Department has lost 6 officers; 4 of them killed feloniously.
Charles is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 16 officers in IL were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 22.
In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1929, 206 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Charles was 40. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38.
Charles was 40. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Charles was 40. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
May holds 7.8% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Tuesdays: 13.8%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 66.7% of all 6 deaths at Berwyn Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 75% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 30.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Berwyn Police Department has 6 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Berwyn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
