Clarence Frueh
Agency patch
Patrolman

Clarence Frueh

Freeport Police Department — Freeport, IL
Felonious
End of Watch June 29, 1923
Age 27
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 45 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Clarence Frueh was shot and killed after arresting a tramp at the Illinois Central depot.

After murdering the officer, the suspect attempted to escape on his motorcycle but was killed when he crashed into a curb.

Patrolman Frueh had served with the Freeport Police Department for two years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-5AC2A0BE
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 Frueh gave the Freeport Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Freeport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Frueh.

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

Agency

Location Freeport, IL
Platform Identity fpd.stephenson.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 29, 1923
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Killed in accident

Patrolman Clarence Frueh 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%.

Freeport Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence Frueh's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Clarence Frueh Compares

Age at End of Watch
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Killed in accident

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Frueh is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence Frueh was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518