Charles C. Kraatz
Agency patch
Patrolman

Charles C. Kraatz

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch May 8, 1953
Age 54
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
Badge 5702
The Vigil Panel 89 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Charles C. Kraatz was killed as he and another officer investigated reports of an armed subject in the hallways of an apartment building at the intersection of E. 36th Place and S. Ellis Avenue. When they arrived on the scene Detective Kraatz commanded the subject to drop his weapon and then walked toward him. The subject began shooting, striking Detective Kraatz in the right shoulder, hip, and stomach. Other officers returned fire and killed the assailant. Records later showed the gunman was on probation for carrying a concealed weapon. Detective Kraatz was transported to Michael Reese Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following day. Detective Kraatz had served with the Chicago Police Department for 24 years.

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

24 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Kraatz gave the Chicago Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kraatz.

— 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 8, 1953
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
Age 54
Badge Number 5702
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles 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 1953, 72 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 98th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 54. 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. Charles had served 24 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%. 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, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Charles C. Kraatz

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch May 8, 1953

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-E

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