Irma C. Ruiz
Agency patch
Police Officer

Irma C. Ruiz

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch September 22, 1988
Age 40
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 16823
Gender Female

Incident

Police Officer Irma Ruiz was shot and killed confronting an armed offender in the Moses Montefiore School at 1300 South Ashland Avenue. A heavily armed gunman went on a shooting rampage, killing three people and wounding another. The assailant then entered an elementary school filled with children. Already in the school, Officer Irma Ruiz learned of the situation and confronted the gunman. After wounding one officer, the gunman fired at Officer Ruiz. She was mortally wounded in the attack. Despite being wounded, Officer Ruiz's partner was able to return fire and kill the gunman. Officer Ruiz had served with the Chicago Police Department for 12 years. She is survived by her husband, daughter, and three sons. In October 2018, Walnut Park was renamed Irma Ruiz Park. A Heart of Chicago elementary school and a police horse also bears her name.

Survivors

She is survived by her husband, daughter, and three sons.

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.
Police Officer Ruiz gave the Chicago Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ruiz.

— 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 September 22, 1988
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 40
Badge Number 16823
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Irma 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 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Irma was 40. 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. Irma had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. 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

Her people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Irma C. Ruiz

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch September 22, 1988

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-E

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