Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Richard Francis was shot and killed with his service weapon as he struggled with a woman who grabbed his gun and shot him once.
He had responded to a disturbance at 2:00 a.m. and approached a woman near the Belmont Area (Area 3) Headquarters at 2452 W. Belmont Avenue. Backup officers responding to the shooting opened fire on the woman when she threatened them. She was critically wounded.
Officer Francis was transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 2:57 a.m.
On February 5th, 2014, the woman was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.
Officer Francis served with the Chicago Police Department for 27 years and was assigned to the 019 District.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two stepdaughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-82BDC0ED- 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Francis gave the Chicago Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Francis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Richard M. Francis is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 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. Richard M. Francis's cause is highlighted.
How Richard M. Francis Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard M. Francis is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard M. Francis was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
