Dell Otis Fountain

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch March 23, 1996

Age 40

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 18247

The Vigil Panel 142 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Police Officer Dell Fountain was shot and killed while investigating a disturbance in an apartment in his building on the 3900 block of West Van Buren Street. Officer Fountain's son had been previously threatened by an armed subject who had been arrested after Officer Fountain reported the incident. On March 23rd, 1996, the man again harassed Officer Fountain's son and attempted to keep him front entering the building. The subject, who was involved in narcotics activity and was on supervised release while awaiting trial for murder, knew that Officer Fountain was a police officer. When Officer Fountain confronted the subject a struggle ensued in which the man gained control of Officer Fountain's weapon and shot him. The shot severed an artery in his leg and he died as a result of loss of blood. The subject was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The original conviction was overturned and received a new trial. Officer Fountain had served with the Chicago Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his son, daughter, parents, and seven siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-DB9A4B25
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.
Police Officer Fountain gave the Chicago Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Fountain.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 23, 1996

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 40

Badge Number 18247

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Dell Otis Fountain 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.

Chicago Police Department

396

of 571 officers

69.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious