Joseph V. Isaacs
Agency patch
Patrolman

Joseph V. Isaacs

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch October 10, 1931
Age 28
Badge 5914
The Vigil Panel 63 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Isaacs was shot and killed while off duty when he tried to quell a disturbance in the Spanish Tavern Café at 11851 South Michigan Avenue. As he intervened in a heated argument between two women, one tried to take his gun. As he struggled with the woman he was shot in the back. Officer Isaacs was taken to the Roseland Community Hospital where he died of his bullet wounds the following morning. A suspect was arrested and charged with murder. Officer Isaacs was assigned to the Kensington Station.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, parents, and brother.

In Our Keeping

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

— 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 October 10, 1931
Age 28
Badge Number 5914
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 28. 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.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Joseph V. Isaacs

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch October 10, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-W

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