Terrence E. Loftus
Agency patch
Police Officer

Terrence E. Loftus

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch October 12, 1976
Age 38
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Badge 5701
The Vigil Panel 117 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Terrence Loftus was shot and killed when he attempted to intervene in a dispute between two rival gangs. Officer Loftus was on his way home when he observed a gang fight. A group of gang members were chasing the rival gang member at the corner of Fullerton Avenue and Central Park Avenue. Officer Loftus exited his patrol car and attempted to stop the altercation. Many members of the rival gang were having a party in a club across the street and when they saw what was happening they all came out of the club. One of them fired a shot that struck Officer Loftus in the spine. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds two days later. The 18-year-old suspect was apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to 200 to 600 years. As of September 7th, 2020, he was still in prison. Officer Loftus was a 15 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.

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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.
Police Officer Loftus gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Loftus.

— 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 12, 1976
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 5701
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Terrence 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 1976, 137 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Terrence was 38. 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. Terrence had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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%. 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Terrence E. Loftus

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch October 12, 1976

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-W

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