Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Jay Brunkella was shot and killed during a narcotics arrest near the Stephen F. Gale Elementary School at 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace. Officer Brunkella and fellow narcotics officers were stationed at the grammar school in response to complaints about drug sales that occurred there. The officers observed a drug deal and they attempted to take one of the suspects into custody. One of the officers caught the suspect and fell to the ground during the ensuing struggle. The officer's service weapon discharged when they fell to the ground and the round struck Officer Brunkella. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The man was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Officer Brunkella had served with the Chicago Police Department for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-65656947- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Brunkella gave the Chicago Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Brunkella.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Jay F. Brunkella is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Chicago Police Department, 107 of 571 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 18.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jay F. Brunkella's cause is highlighted.
How Jay F. Brunkella Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 20 years
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Jay F. Brunkella is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
