Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Robert F. Wenzel

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 19, 1973

Age 36

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Badge 7495

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Robert F. Wenzel was shot and killed during a traffic stop in the 1900 block of North Lake Shore Drive. At some point during the traffic stop, the motorist drew a revolver and fired two shots. Despite being wounded, he was able to return fire and struck the subject multiple times. The killer was found guilty of Patrolman Wenzel's murder and sentenced to 75 to 150 years in prison. He died in prison on June 26th, 2011. Patrolman Wenzel was a United States Coast Guard Reserve veteran and served with the Chicago Police Department for 12 years, receiving one Honor Mention and 11 Letters of Commendation. He is survived by his wife and four children. He is buried at Acacia Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-4266C485
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Coast Guard. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.

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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 Wenzel gave the Chicago Police Department 12 years.
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

Department Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Chicago, Cook County, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 19, 1973

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 36

Badge Number 7495

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Robert F. Wenzel served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Robert F. Wenzel 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 97,759 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 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

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious