Roll of Honor
Incident
Park Police Officer Arthur Swanson succumbed to injuries sustained one week earlier when his police motorcycle struck a slick spot on Michigan Avenue at 36th Street. Another policeman who was riding next to him also crashed and was seriously injured. Patrolman Swanson had served with the Chicago Park District Police Department for 10 years. The Chicago Park District Police Department was disbanded in 1957. Remaining officers were transferred to the Chicago Police Department through an intergovernmental agreement.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-EF9A8D9A- 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.
Park Police Officer Swanson gave the Chicago Park District Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Police Officer Swanson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Park Police Officer Arthur Swanson 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 Park District Police Department, 5 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arthur Swanson's cause is highlighted.
How Arthur Swanson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Arthur Swanson is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Chicago Park District Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
