John J. Freichel
Agency patch
Patrolman

John J. Freichel

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch August 23, 1936
Age 42
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Badge 3710
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Freichel was shot and killed while off duty by an assailant he had previously arrested. Patrolman Freichel accidentally bumped into the suspect as he entered a bar at 759 S. Kedzie Avenue. The offender approached the officer from behind and pulled out a gun and fired. He then ran about a block away and shot himself in the head, seriously wounding himself. He died five days later. Patrolman Freichel had served with the Chicago Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Freichel gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Freichel.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1936
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 42
Badge Number 3710
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1936, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 42. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John J. Freichel

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch August 23, 1936

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E

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