Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Edgar Chatterton and Sergeant Frank Svec were shot and killed by a man they attempted to serve a warrant on for truancy, as he had refused to send his two children to school because he opposed vaccination. As the two officers stood on the front porch of the home, the suspect fired several times through his glass front door. The suspect was captured a few minutes later and stated he thought the two officers were burglars but was convicted of Sergeant Svec's murder and sentenced to life in prison on August 2, 1933. On October 18, 1934, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed and remanded the conviction and sentence, stating there was reasonable doubt. He received a new trial, but much to the horror of the Berwyn Police and citizens, no one was notified about the new trial. When no one from the first trial showed up in court, the murder charge was dismissed, and he went home. Patrolman Chatterton had served with the Berwyn Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-5039EF1D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Patrolman Chatterton gave the Berwyn Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Berwyn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Chatterton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Edgar J. Chatterton 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 Berwyn Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edgar J. Chatterton's cause is highlighted.
How Edgar J. Chatterton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edgar J. Chatterton is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edgar J. Chatterton was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Berwyn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
