Martin Knudson
Agency patch
Patrolman

Martin Knudson

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch February 5, 1932
Age 47
Tour of Duty 16 yrs 9 mo
Badge 1457
The Vigil Panel 63 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Martin Knudson was fatally wounded in a gun battle with armed robbers. Patrolman Knudson was detailed to guard cash collections being taken at a garage used by the Chicago Herald and Examiner at 856 N. Trumbull Avenue. Three armed robbers entered and announced a holdup. In an attempt to foil the robbery, Patrolman Knudson drew his revolver. A gun battle ensued and Patrolman Knudson was mortally wounded in the exchange. Just before Patrolman Knudson died he told fellow officers that he thought he shot one of the suspects. Officer later came upon an abandoned car the suspects had used in the robbery. Inside was a dead 18-year-old man who had been shot one time. Ballistics showed the bullet came from Patrolman Knudson's service revolver. Patrolman Knudson died an hour after the attack at the Franklin Boulevard Hospital. The other suspects were apprehended but only one was tried for the murder of Patrolman Knudson. The man was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Patrolman Knudson had served with the Chicago Police Department for nearly 17 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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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 Knudson gave the Chicago Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Knudson.

— 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 February 5, 1932
Tour of Duty 16 yrs 9 mo
Age 47
Badge Number 1457
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 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 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Martin was 47. 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. Martin had served 16.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Martin Knudson

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch February 5, 1932

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-E

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