Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Thomas Wortham was shot and killed after identifying himself as a police officer when four subjects attempted to rob him while he was off duty at 11:25 pm.
Officer Wortham was visiting his parents' home to show them pictures from the previous week's Police Week activities that he attended in Washington, DC. As he was leaving, four men approached and attempted to rob him of his motorcycle near the intersection of East 85th Street and South Martin Luther King Drive. Officer Wortham drew his service weapon and fired at the suspects, but was fatally shot in the abdomen. He was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
His father, a retired Chicago police sergeant, witnessed the shooting and exchanged shots with the suspects. One was killed, another was seriously wounded while the two remaining males fled in a vehicle. All three suspects have been charged with first-degree murder. In November 2014 the two uninjured subjects were both convicted of Officer Wortham's murder.
Officer Wortham had served with the Chicago Police Department for nearly three years and was assigned to the Englewood District. He had previously served with the Evergreen Park Police Department for eight months and had recently returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq while serving with the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
Survivors
Officer Wortham was survived by his sister and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-584D1DF2- 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
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.
Police Officer Wortham gave the Chicago Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Thomas E. Wortham, IV served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Thomas E. Wortham, IV 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. Thomas E. Wortham, IV's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas E. Wortham, IV Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas E. Wortham, IV is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas E. Wortham, IV was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Thomas E. Wortham, IV served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
