Gilbert Richard Chavez

Phoenix Police Dept. — Phoenix, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch June 16, 1975

Age 22

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Badge 2684

The Vigil Panel 115 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 46

Incident

Officer Gilbert Chavez was shot and killed and his partner was wounded by one of two youths juvenile during a burglary of a Phoenix radiator business. Officer Chavez and his partner had entered the business after dispatchers received an anonymous tip that a burglary was in progress. The officer located one of two suspects and a struggle ensued. Officer Chavez was shot near the heart and critically wounded but managed to radio for help before dying. The killer, 16, was convicted of murder, assault with deadly weapon, and sentenced to life. He was paroled in 2000. In April of 2004 he tied his girlfriend to a bed post and beat her with a cane. A month later he was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was convicted of possession of a gun by a convicted felon, aggravated assault, and kidnapping and sentenced to 56 years. As of October 15, 2022, he was in still in prison. His companion, 17, was convicted of second degree murder, burglary, and sentenced to 15 to 25 years. On August 17, 1981, he was paroled. Officer Chavez had served with the agency for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-9D89242B
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

You barely got started.
Officer Chavez gave the Phoenix Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Chavez.

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

Agency

Department Phoenix Police Dept.

Location Phoenix, AZ

Platform Identity phoepd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 16, 1975

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 22

Badge Number 2684

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Cause: Gunfire

Officer Gilbert Richard Chavez 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Phoenix Police Dept., 28 of 47 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.6% of this agency's fallen.

Phoenix Police Dept.

of 47 officers

59.6% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious