Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Adam W. Fryer was shot to death at Harrison Street and Clinton Street by two burglars. As the assailants fled, Officer Fryer was shot and killed. Both assailants were sentenced to the Joliet Penitentiary for life. A new trial was granted and the killers were acquitted. One, age 25, became the leader of infamous "Henry Street Gang". On December 23, 1892, he and his gang robbed more than 40 passengers on a Southside Chicago train. Three weeks later when a Chicago officer tried to arrest him at a saloon, he shot the officer and beat him almost to death. Days later he was arrested after a gun fight with two Chicago officers. On July 14, 1893, he was convicted under the habitual criminal act and sentenced to 25 years. On January 5, 1897, he was pardoned by Governor John P. Altgeld. In 1899 he was sentenced to two years for stealing whiskey from a box car. Patrolman Fryer served with the Chicago Police Department for less than two years.
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BO-US-IL-A45FE791- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
137 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Fryer gave the Chicago Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Adam W. Fryer is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Adam W. Fryer's cause is highlighted.
How Adam W. Fryer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Adam W. Fryer is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Adam W. Fryer was killed by gun.
Incident Location
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