Charles W. Pollard
Agency patch
Patrolman

Charles W. Pollard

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch December 14, 1967
Age 44
Tour of Duty 15 yrs 7 mo
Badge 5540
The Vigil Panel 103 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Charles Pollard was found fatally shot behind an apartment building where he lived at 4038 W. 21st Street on December 14th at 6 am. Officer Pollard’s wallet was located nearby, empty of its contents. His service revolver and police identification were missing. At 9:00 pm on December 13, Patrolman Pollard had completed his shift and exited his car when two subjects confronted him to rob him. The subjects held him at gunpoint while they took his wristwatch, wallet, gun, and badge. As they walked him further into the alley, Officer Pollard spun around and told them he was a police officer, and they were under arrest. One of the subjects shot Officer Pollard in the chest, and both subjects fled. The subjects, ages 19 and 21, were arrested and convicted of murder and armed robbery. One was sentenced to 50 to 100 years in prison. He was paroled on March 12, 1991. The second suspect was sentenced to death. In 1972 the Illinois Supreme Court ordered a new trial, and he was removed from death row. He was denied parole in 2013. Officer Pollard had served with the Chicago Police Department for 15 years and was assigned to the Marquette District.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six 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 Pollard gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Pollard.

— 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 December 14, 1967
Tour of Duty 15 yrs 7 mo
Age 44
Badge Number 5540
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 1967, 105 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 48th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 44. 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 15.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.

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 W. Pollard

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch December 14, 1967

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-E

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