Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Olson was fatally shot in the back after being hit from behind by one of two subjects at 9:48 a.m. Patrolman Olson was on duty, in uniform, while escorting an insurance company cashier to a bank at Crawford and North Avenues. At the southwest corner of Harding Avenue and North Avenue, one of the subjects jostled between the officer and the cashier, put a gun to the cashier, and grabbed the money bag. The other subject struck the officer from behind with a length of lead-filled rubber hose. Patrolman Olson, stunned from the blow, staggered forward in pursuit of the thief who was running with the money bag. He was trying to draw his revolver when the second subject shot him in the back. The two subjects fled on foot, the one who fired the shot running north on Harding Avenue to the next corner and then ran east and escaped. The length of hose was found near the scene, and later the zipper jacket worn by one of the killers was found as well as the fatal weapon, an Iver Johnson Revolver. There were many witnesses to the crime who were able to identify the killer and also furnished a description of the man who ran with the money. At a coroner’s inquest on October 21st, 1938, the verdict of "murder by unknown men" was returned.
Survivors
Patrolman John Olson is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-IL-CE001CD5- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Olson served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Olson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John A. Olson 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John A. Olson's cause is highlighted.
How John A. Olson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John A. Olson is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John A. Olson was killed by gun.
Incident Location
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