Thomas Kelma

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch May 31, 1935

Age 38

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 427

The Vigil Panel 69 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Kelma was shot and mortally wounded while attempting to arrest four armed robbers at 2033 S. Ashland Avenue. He was off duty when he observed the four men enter a lounge. A struggle ensued as he attempted to intervene in the robbery. One of the men fatally shot Patrolman Kelma and then fled. All four suspects were arrested and charged with Patrolman Kelma's murder. On July 26th, 1935, one of the suspects was sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in 1950. Another was sentenced to 199 years. He escaped from prison with six others in 1942. A guard was seriously wounded when he was shot and fell from the watchtower. All seven were captured in Chicago two months later. He was denied parole in 1960. Another was sentenced to 14 years. The subject who shot Patrolman Kelma hanged himself in his jail cell just before he was to be sentenced. Patrolman Kelma had served with the Chicago Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-7B4C4030
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.
Patrolman Kelma gave the Chicago Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kelma.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 31, 1935

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 38

Badge Number 427

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide in jail

Patrolman Thomas Kelma 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