Roll of Honor
Incident
Commander Paul Bauer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a subject who had just run from other officers near the James R. Thompson Center, a state government office building.
Other officers had attempted to conduct a subject stop on the man in connection with a shooting that had occurred several days earlier. The subject fled from the officers. Commander Bauer, who was in the area for a meeting, observed the subject at the government building and attempted to stop him in a stairwell. The subject opened fire, killing Commander Bauer.
The subject was taken into custody moments later.
The man was convicted of Commander Bauer's murder and on October 28th, 2020, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Commander Bauer had served with the Chicago Police Department for 32 years and served as commander of the 018th District.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-B61B95BE- 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
31 years. You could have gone home.
Commander Bauer gave the Chicago Police Department 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Commander Bauer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Commander Paul R. Bauer 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul R. Bauer's cause is highlighted.
How Paul R. Bauer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul R. Bauer is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul R. Bauer was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
