Frank Balzano
Agency patch
Police Officer

Frank Balzano

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch November 14, 1997
Age 65
Tour of Duty 39 yrs 8 mo
Badge 10528
The Vigil Panel 144 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Frank Balzano was killed while providing security at Harlem-Irving Plaza at 4104 N Harlem Avenue. Officer Belzano fell during an altercation with several suspects, striking his head. He died of his injuries the next day. A 17-year-old female and a 16-year-old male were arrested and charged with murder. The 16-year-old was charged as an adult. Both juveniles pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The female subject was sentenced to three years probation, and the male subject was sentenced to four years in prison. Officer Balzano had served with the Chicago Police Department for 39 years and was planning on retiring six weeks later.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, and two grandsons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-5211B709
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

39 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Balzano gave the Chicago Police Department 39 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Balzano.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 14, 1997
Tour of Duty 39 yrs 8 mo
Age 65
Badge Number 10528
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

Police Officer Frank Balzano 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.

Chicago Police Department
396
of 571 officers
69.4% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Frank Balzano Compares

Age at Death
65
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
39.7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Balzano is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Balzano was killed by person.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location