S. Wellington McArthur
Agency patch
Patrolman

S. Wellington McArthur

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch June 29, 1877
Age 30
Tour of Duty 1 mo
The Vigil Panel 5 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Spencer McArthur succumbed to a stab wound sustained two weeks earlier as he and his partner attempted to arrest two drunken sailors near the Lake Street Bridge.

The officers observed the men walk into a nearby lumberyard and then heard one of them yell that he had been stabbed. The officers ran into the lumber yard and each grabbed one of the suspects. The suspect Patrolman McArthur grabbed immediately stabbed him in the stomach and fled. The suspect was arrested by detectives approximately 3 hours later.

Patrolman McArthur and the prisoner were taken back to the West Madison Street Station where he remained for several days before being taken to his home.

Patrolman McArthur had only served with the Chicago Police Department for one month and had previously served as an officer in White Hall, New York.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-8920C831
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

149 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman McArthur served with the Chicago 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

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 29, 1877
Tour of Duty 1 mo
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Patrolman S. Wellington McArthur 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 97,756 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
1
of 97,756 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. S. Wellington McArthur's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How S. Wellington McArthur Compares

Age at Death
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. S. Wellington McArthur is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. S. Wellington McArthur was killed by edged weapon; knife.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location