Terrence E. Loftus

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch October 12, 1976

Age 38

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Badge 5701

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Police Officer Terrence Loftus was shot and killed when he attempted to intervene in a dispute between two rival gangs. Officer Loftus was on his way home when he observed a gang fight. A group of gang members were chasing the rival gang member at the corner of Fullerton Avenue and Central Park Avenue. Officer Loftus exited his patrol car and attempted to stop the altercation. Many members of the rival gang were having a party in a club across the street and when they saw what was happening they all came out of the club. One of them fired a shot that struck Officer Loftus in the spine. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds two days later. The 18-year-old suspect was apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to 200 to 600 years. As of September 7th, 2020, he was still in prison. Officer Loftus was a 15 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-B76598E0
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.
Police Officer Loftus gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Loftus.

— 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 October 12, 1976

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 38

Badge Number 5701

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Terrence E. Loftus 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