Wayne J. Klacza
Agency patch
Police Officer

Wayne J. Klacza

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch June 28, 1983
Age 32
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 16469
The Vigil Panel 127 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Wayne Klacza was killed by an intoxicated driver in front of the Harrison Street Police Station at 3151 West Harrison Street. He observed the vehicle driving erratically and was attempting to protect a pedestrian from the motorist when the car fatally struck him. The driver of the vehicle was convicted of reckless homicide and sentenced to six months in jail. Officer Klacza had served with the Chicago Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

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.
Police Officer Klacza gave the Chicago Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Klacza.

— 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 June 28, 1983
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 16469
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Wayne 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 1983, 106 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 47th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Wayne was 32. 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. Wayne had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Wayne J. Klacza

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch June 28, 1983

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-E

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