Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Earl Jensen was shot and killed after stopping and attempting to arrest three suspects. Officer Jensen had chased a car for traffic violations while on motorcycle patrol. The car did not pull over and Officer Jensen fired a warning shot into the air, a common practice at the time. The car stopped in the 800 block of Carpenter Street. After questioning the occupants, Officer Jensen asked a passerby to telephone the police station and request a wagon, presumably to transport the men. As Officer Jensen returned to the car, the driver opened his door and shot Officer Jensen four or five times. Officer Jensen fell to the ground while returning fire, striking the driver once. A passenger in the car came to the driver's aid and shot Officer Jensen as he lay on the ground, taking the car keys from the officer's body. Officer Jensen suffered two gunshot wounds to the chest and one wound to the left hand. The two shooters were arrested after a gunbattle in Columbus Park in which one was seriously injured. Subsequent investigation determined the car was stolen by the two shooters who were responsible for a string of armed robberies in Aurora, Elgin, Geneva, and Joliet, Illinois, and in Marshalltown, Iowa. All three suspects were indicted for murder. The suspects identified as the gunmen were convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On December 15, 1934, they were both executed by electrocution at the Cook County Jail. Officer Jensen had served with the Oak Park Police Department for nearly 4½ years. He was survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter. Officer Jensen was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-CB89D2CC- 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 Jensen gave the Oak Park Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oak Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Jensen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Earl Milton Jensen 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 Oak Park Police Department, 3 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl Milton Jensen's cause is highlighted.
How Earl Milton Jensen Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1934
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl Milton Jensen is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl Milton Jensen was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Oak Park Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
