Roll of Honor
Incident
Dispatcher Oscar Brumfield was shot and killed when several members of a racist, radical group known as the Blackstone Rangers raided the East Chicago Heights police station in an attempt to steal weapons.
Dispatcher Brumfield, who was alone in the station while supervising a prisoner, attempted to draw his weapon but was shot in the chest. The men fled without stealing any weapons. Dispatcher Brumfield was able to broadcast a request for emergency assistance over the radio but died before officers with the Cook County Sheriff's Office arrived.
Several members of the gang were arrested and charged in connection with Dispatcher Brumfield's murder. The leader of the gang was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His conviction was upheld on appeal but the death sentence was overturned in 1973 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the death penalty was unconstitutional. His death sentence was commuted to 25 to 50 years.
Dispatcher Brumfield had served with the East Chicago Heights Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-94279C80- 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.
Dispatcher Brumfield gave the East Chicago Heights Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ford Heights community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Dispatcher Brumfield.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Dispatcher Oscar Brumfield 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oscar Brumfield's cause is highlighted.
How Oscar Brumfield Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 50 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oscar Brumfield is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oscar Brumfield was killed by gun; unknown type.