Lee R. Seward
Agency patch
Patrol Specialist

Lee R. Seward

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch December 30, 1987
Age 43
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Badge 15906
The Vigil Panel 132 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrol Specialist Lee Seward was shot and killed at 8:30 pm after he and several officers responded to a noise complaint at 4126 1/2 North Sheridan Road. Officers had responded to the location for a similar complaint earlier in the day. During the first response the man was told if the officers had to come back he was going to jail. When the officers returned the man was able to gain control of one of the officers' service weapons and opened fire, fatally wounding Specialist Seward. The man was then shot and killed by another officer. Specialist Seward had served with the Chicago Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-CB3AC01F
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.
Patrol Specialist Seward gave the Chicago Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Specialist Seward.

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

Agency

Location Chicago, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 1987
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 15906
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Shot and killed

Patrol Specialist Lee R. Seward 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

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lee R. Seward's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Lee R. Seward Compares

Age at End of Watch
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
16
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lee R. Seward is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lee R. Seward was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location