Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Oreste Gonzalez was shot and killed near the intersection of West 74th Street and South Western Avenue while transported a robbery suspect he and his partner had just arrested. A man had just robbed a taxi driver of cash and the taxicab, which he abandoned several blocks away. As the officers were driving to the abandoned cab they saw the suspect emerge from a restaurant and stopped him. They searched him but failed to find a concealed .25 caliber handgun. As they drove the man to the police station he produced the gun and opened fire, shooting both officers. Despite being mortally wounded, Patrolman Gonzales returned fire and killed the subject. The subject who shot him was recently paroled. Patrolman Gonzalez was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-E617E2FE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Gonzalez served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Oreste E. Gonzalez served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman Oreste E. Gonzalez is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 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 10 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
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. Oreste E. Gonzalez's cause is highlighted.
How Oreste E. Gonzalez Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oreste E. Gonzalez is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oreste E. Gonzalez was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Oreste E. Gonzalez served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Oreste E. Gonzalez’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
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