Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Niels L. Hansen

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch February 18, 1871

Age 27

Tour of Duty 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Hansen was accidentally shot and killed by another officer as the two talked at the corner of Noble Street and Chicago Avenue. The other officer was reaching into his overcoat pocket and accidentally discharged his revolver. The shot struck Patrolman Hansen in the face, killing him instantly.

The patrolman who accidentally fired the shot denied that the shot was fired from his pistol. He was subsequently charged with murder for refusing to admit that it was an accident or to provide any information. A jury found him not guilty.

Patrolman Hansen was a U.S Navy veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for only two months. He was survived by his wife, two infant daughters, and brother. His brother also served as a Chicago police officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two infant daughters, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-8C345CAA
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Niels is one person.

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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.
Patrolman Hansen served with the Chicago Police Department.
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

Department Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Chicago, Cook County, IL

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 18, 1871

Tour of Duty 2 mo

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Niels L. Hansen served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Niels L. Hansen is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 26.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

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

of 97,756 officers

0% Accident