Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Charles Pennell and his partner, Officer Timothy Devine and were ambushed by gunfire when they were following two burglary suspects. Officer Devine returned fire, wounding one of the fleeing assailants. There were six arrests after the murders. Another assailant who escaped was arrested after murdering Constable Harry F. Bierer in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on July 9, 1903. That killer confessed to the murder of Officer Pennell and Officer Devine before being hung in Pennsylvania on February 11, 1904.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-3F070FF6- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Pennell served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Pennell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Charles Pennell is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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. Charles Pennell's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Pennell Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1904
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Pennell is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Pennell was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
