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Patrolman

Louis F. Furst

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch September 22, 1934

Age 44

Badge 6347

The Vigil Panel 68 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Keepsakes Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Louis Furst died in Englewood Hospital from five bullet wounds incurred when he answered a robbery in progress call. Policeman Furst was slain when he attempted to stop the gunman, an escaped convict from the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri. The man had attempted to rob the H.J. Coleman real estate office at 6857 S. State Street. The gunman entered the office under the guise of being interested in an apartment. When all of the customers left he displayed a nickel-plated revolver and pointed it at the employees. The subject then ordered them against the wall and rifled the cash drawer, taking about $200. Witnesses in an adjacent business rushed to E. 59th Street and State Street to notify Policeman Furst, where he was on traffic duty. Patrolman Furst ran to the real estate office. The subject saw him, placed his foot against the bottom of the glass door, and both fired at the same time. Patrolman Furst’s shot missed the man. The subject's round struck Patrolman Furst in the head. The man then fired four more shots into his body, turned, and ran. Two policemen patrolling the area, and an off duty policeman, heard the shots and saw the gunman fleeing and gave chase. The gunman sought refuge in a second-floor apartment at 5821 Grove Street. He told the occupant he was hiding from his wife. He rushed in and hid in a pantry. Two of the policemen ran up the front steps while two others went to the rear. When ordered to surrender, the gunman responded with a burst of gunfire. All four policemen returned fire, fatally wounding him. Policeman Furst is survived by his wife, two sons, and daughter

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: NW-7778-WERC-H earlier record number BO-US-IL-245BECA3
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 Furst served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Furst.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Chicago, Cook County, IL

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

Service Record

End of Watch September 22, 1934

Age 44

Badge Number 6347

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Louis is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1934, 178 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Louis was 44. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded