Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Clarence Ritsch

Carmi Police Department — Carmi, IL

Felonious

End of Watch May 26, 1934

Age 50

Tour of Duty 25 yrs

The Vigil Panel 68 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Chief Clarence Ritsch was shot and killed while escorting a prisoner to jail that he had arrested for being intoxicated.

As they walked to the jail, the man reached inside of his coat pocket and fired a handgun. Although mortally wounded, Chief Ritsch was able to return fire. The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was paroled December 6, 1957.

Chief Ritsch had served with the Carmi Police Department for 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-F7B2B5D4
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

25 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Ritsch gave the Carmi Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Carmi community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Ritsch.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Carmi Police Department

Location Carmi, IL

Platform Identity cpd.white.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 26, 1934

Tour of Duty 25 yrs

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Paroled in 1957

Chief of Police Clarence Ritsch 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 Carmi Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Carmi Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence Ritsch's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Clarence Ritsch Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1957

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Ritsch is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence Ritsch was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Carmi Police Department are honored on badge.nw.