Gilbert E. Reynolds
Agency patch
Patrolman

Gilbert E. Reynolds

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Accident Veteran
End of Watch December 5, 1877
Age 37
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 5 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Gilbert Reynolds was accidentally shot and killed while he and another officer were cleaning equipment in the Madison Street Station prior to the beginning of their shift.

The service revolver of the other officer in the room fell from his overcoat pocket and struck the floor. Upon striking the floor the pistol discharged and the round struck Patrolman Reynolds in the abdomen.

A doctor was summoned to the police station and attended to Patrolman Reynolds until he succumbed to the wound 4 hours later.

Patrolman Reynolds was a U.S Army veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-75708BB2
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Gilbert. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Patrolman Reynolds gave the Chicago Police Department 4 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

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 5, 1877
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Gilbert E. Reynolds served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Gilbert E. Reynolds 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.

Chicago Police Department
107
of 571 officers
18.7% Accident
IL — Statewide
354
of 1,318 officers
26.9% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gilbert E. Reynolds'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 Gilbert E. Reynolds Compares

Age at End of Watch
37
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Gilbert E. Reynolds is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location