Robert L. Gallowitch
Agency patch
Patrolman

Robert L. Gallowitch

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch May 24, 1972
Tour of Duty 11 mo
Badge 15442
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Robert Gallowitch was shot and killed while responding to a robbery call at a jewelry store at 8649 South Cottage Grove Avenue. Upon arrival, he discovered three gunmen disguised as telephone repairmen. The offenders kidnapped a telephone truck driver and used the stolen truck while robbing a jewelry store. As Patrolman Gallowitch confronted the three offenders in the alley, the gunmen began shooting. Patrolman Gallowitch sustained fatal gunshot wounds from one of them during the encounter. Patrolman Gallowitch's killer was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to 20 to 40 years. In 1975 he applied for clemency because he had deadly kidney disease but was denied. In 1982 he applied again and was approved for his poor health, but a court of appeals overruled the decision and kept him in prison. Patrolman Gallowitch had served with the Chicago Police Department for less than a year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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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 Gallowitch served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gallowitch.

— 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 May 24, 1972
Tour of Duty 11 mo
Badge Number 15442
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Robert 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 1972, 142 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 28th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert had served 0.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Robert L. Gallowitch

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch May 24, 1972

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-E

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