Roll of Honor
Joseph Zacharek
Incident
Night Watchman Joseph Zacharek, alias Joseph O'Harek, was shot and killed while attempting to remove three trespassers from a boxcar at the intersection of Oakley Avenue and Kinzie Street in Chicago, Illinois.
He was patrolling the railroad's Western Avenue yards when he encountered the three men attempting to board an outgoing train. He was shot and killed as he attempted to remove them from the train.
All three men were charged with Night Watchman Zacharek's murder. Charges against two were dismissed and the third man was acquitted at trial.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-6F983C07- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Zacharek served with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman Joseph Zacharek 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 97,775 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, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Zacharek's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Zacharek Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Zacharek is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Zacharek was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
