Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Joseph Airhart succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained seven years earlier while leading an FBI Task Force raid at the home of a bank robbery suspect at 1307 South Wabash Avenue.
As the team entered the man's apartment, the suspect opened fire, striking Detective Airhart. The suspect then held Detective Airhart hostage for two hours before being taken into custody.
Detective Airhart remained in a coma for two months but never fully recovered. He was unable to speak, walk, or swallow food. He died as a result of his wound on November 4th, 2008.
Prior to Detective Airhart's death, the suspect had been sentenced to life in prison plus 132 years for the shooting and robberies.
Detective Airhart had served with the Chicago Police Department for 19 years at the time of the shooting.
Survivors
He was survived by his daughter, parents, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-569111A3- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Airhart gave the Chicago Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Airhart.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Joseph M. Airhart Jr. 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. Joseph M. Airhart Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Joseph M. Airhart Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph M. Airhart Jr. is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph M. Airhart Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
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