Incident
Patrolman Herman Stallworth died after being shot during a traffic stop. His partner was wounded in the incident. He and his partner stopped a vehicle at Cottage Grove Avenue and Marquette Road for speeding. There were two occupants, and neither had identification. As his partner radioed in the license number, he questioned the occupants. The driver opened fire, striking Patrolman Stallworth in the chest. Before the second officer could exit the squad car, he was also shot but was able to radio for help. Twenty units responded to the call for assistance, and the passenger was captured as he mingled with the crowd that had gathered around Officer Stallworth as he lay wounded in the street. The driver barricaded himself in an apartment in the 6400 block of South Maryland. He fired at police through the door but surrendered when he ran out of ammunition. Patrolman Stallworth was transported to Billings Hospital, where he died during surgery. Patrolman Stallworth's 24-year-old killer, a former basketball star at Iowa State University, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. In 1974, after the U.S. Supreme Court did away with the death penalty, his sentence was commuted to 100 to 300 years. Despite being denied parole more than 30 times, he was granted parole in 2021. Patrolman Stallworth was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for eight years. He received two honorable mentions and three department citations during his career.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-A68E4359- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Stallworth gave the Chicago Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Herman Stallworth served in the Navy (1947â1951) before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman Herman Stallworth 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herman Stallworth's cause is highlighted.
How Herman Stallworth Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 100 years; Paroled
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herman Stallworth is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herman Stallworth was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
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