Wayne J. Klacza
Agency patch
Police Officer

Wayne J. Klacza

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch June 28, 1983
Age 32
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 16469
The Vigil Panel 127 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Wayne Klacza was killed by an intoxicated driver in front of the Harrison Street Police Station at 3151 West Harrison Street. He observed the vehicle driving erratically and was attempting to protect a pedestrian from the motorist when the car fatally struck him. The driver of the vehicle was convicted of reckless homicide and sentenced to six months in jail. Officer Klacza had served with the Chicago Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-17264951
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Klacza gave the Chicago Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Klacza.

— 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 28, 1983
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 16469
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Police Officer Wayne J. Klacza 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 97,772 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 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wayne J. Klacza's cause is highlighted.

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

How Wayne J. Klacza Compares

Age at Death
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wayne J. Klacza 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. Wayne J. Klacza was killed by automobile.

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

Incident Location