Joseph Isola
Agency patch
Park Police Officer

Joseph Isola

Felonious
End of Watch November 2, 1935
Age 45
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Badge 653
The Vigil Panel 70 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Park Police Officer Joseph Isola was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an armed robbery suspect in a tavern on N. Ada Street near W. Washington Boulevard. Officer Isola was walking his beat when a man ran up to him and informed him of the robbery in progress. Officer Isola rushed to the tavern where he encountered two suspects severely beating an employee. One of the men drew a handgun and shot Officer Isola in the chest. He was transported to a local hospital where he died the following day. Officer Isola had served with the Chicago Park District Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and six siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-B1F4DFA1
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Park Police Officer Isola gave the Chicago Park District Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Police Officer Isola.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, IL
Platform Identity cpdpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 2, 1935
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 653
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Park Police Officer Joseph Isola 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 Park District Police Department, 8 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.5% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Park District Police Department
8
of 13 officers
61.5% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Isola's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Joseph Isola Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Isola is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Isola was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location