Joseph A. Bender

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch February 10, 1927

Age 30

Badge 2958

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Bender was standing in front of his home near 57th Street and Paulina Street when he observed an automobile parked nearby. Two armed offenders exited, approached Patrolman Bender, and announced a robbery. When Patrolman Bender resisted one of the gunmen fired and fatally wounded him. His 6-year-old son, standing at the front door waiting to greet his father, witnessed the shooting. Two men, ages 18 and 19, were arrested for Patrolman Bender's murder a few days later after they wrecked a car they had stolen. Patrolman Bender had been shot with another officer's service revolver. That officer had been robbed in the exact same way by the suspects hours earlier. Both officers were in civilian clothes. During a 10-day crime spree, both suspects were found to be responsible for over 50 other robberies and they shot and critically wounded another man. They were both sentenced to life in Joliet Prison. One was paroled on October 5th, 1951.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-54DFE21C
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Bender served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bender.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 10, 1927

Age 30

Badge Number 2958

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Patrolman Joseph A. Bender 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.

Chicago Police Department

396

of 571 officers

69.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious