Frank Balzano
Agency patch
Police Officer

Frank Balzano

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch November 14, 1997
Age 65
Tour of Duty 39 yrs 8 mo
Badge 10528
The Vigil Panel 144 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Frank Balzano was killed while providing security at Harlem-Irving Plaza at 4104 N Harlem Avenue. Officer Belzano fell during an altercation with several suspects, striking his head. He died of his injuries the next day. A 17-year-old female and a 16-year-old male were arrested and charged with murder. The 16-year-old was charged as an adult. Both juveniles pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The female subject was sentenced to three years probation, and the male subject was sentenced to four years in prison. Officer Balzano had served with the Chicago Police Department for 39 years and was planning on retiring six weeks later.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, and two grandsons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-5211B709
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

39 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Balzano gave the Chicago Police Department 39 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 Balzano.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Chicago, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 14, 1997
Tour of Duty 39 yrs 8 mo
Age 65
Badge Number 10528
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person
Offender secondary employment

Police Officer Frank Balzano is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Balzano's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Frank Balzano Compares

Age at End of Watch
65
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
39.7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

secondary employment

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Balzano is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Balzano was killed by person.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location