Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Edward Pflaume was shot and killed as he and other officers attempted to arrest two men suspected of committing a robbery earlier in the day. The suspects opened fire on the officers, killing Officer Pflaume and wounding a second officer. One of the suspects was killed and the other was wounded as he attempted to flee. The wounded suspect, William ''Three-Fingered Jack'' White, one of Al Capone's top lieutenants, was convicted of Officer Pflaume's murder and sentenced to life on January 21, 1927. In February 1929, he won a reversal in the supreme court which held that it had not been proved that Officer Pflaume and the other officers had the right to arrest him. At his new trial he was again found guilty of Officer Pflaume's murder but was only sentenced to 14 years in prison on March 14, 1931. He was paroled a short time later, but on January 23, 1934, he was shot and killed by rival gangsters in Chicago. Officer Pflaume had served with the Forest Park Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-66B98324- 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
You barely got started.
Officer Pflaume gave the Forest Park Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Forest Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Pflaume.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Edward Richard Pflaume 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 Forest Park Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward Richard Pflaume's cause is highlighted.
How Edward Richard Pflaume Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward Richard Pflaume is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward Richard Pflaume was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Forest Park Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
