Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Thomas A. Wodarczyk and Police Officer William S. Bodnar, Jr. were killed when their patrol car collided with a produce truck at the intersection of Van Buren Street and Morgan Street while they were chasing a stolen vehicle. They began the pursuit at 5:40 a.m., westbound on Van Buren Street from State Street. Approximately three minutes later another officer called in for emergency equipment to be sent to Van Buren Street and Morgan Street. Both officers were pronounced dead a short time later. The truck driver was northbound on Morgan Street, proceeding through the green light. His view of the oncoming squad car was partially blocked by an eight-story building on the southeast corner of the intersection. The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned. Officer Wodarczyk was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for one year, assigned to the Central District.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-AC937E53- 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 Thomas. 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.
Police Officer Wodarczyk gave the Chicago Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Thomas A. Wodarczyk served in the Army (1958â1962) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Thomas A. Wodarczyk 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas A. Wodarczyk's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas A. Wodarczyk Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas A. Wodarczyk is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
