Harold F. Olson
Agency patch
Patrolman

Harold F. Olson

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch June 13, 1925
Age 25
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 8 mo
Badge 2911
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Harold Olson and Patrolman Charles Walsh were shot and killed while chasing three mobsters who had just attempted to assassinate one of their rivals. The car carrying the assailants crashed in the 5900 block of South Western Avenue. As the three men exited the car, they opened fire on the officers with shotguns. Patrolmen Olson and Walsh were fatally wounded and a third patrolman was seriously wounded. A fourth officer returned fire, killing one of the killers. The officer also chased and apprehended the remaining two gunmen. The two gunmen were acquitted by a jury but later murdered by Al Capone in 1929. The two men were hitmen for Al Capone when they murdered Patrolman Olson and Patrolman Walsh. Patrolman Olson had served with the Chicago Police Department for almost three years and was assigned to the Detective Division Ford Squad 8 C.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother and five brothers.

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.
Patrolman Olson gave the Chicago Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Olson.

— 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 13, 1925
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 8 mo
Age 25
Badge Number 2911
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Harold 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 1925, 208 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Harold was 25. 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. Harold had served 2.7 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%. 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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Harold F. Olson

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch June 13, 1925

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-E

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