Anthony L. Ruthy

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch April 30, 1931

Badge 4158

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Anthony Ruthy was shot and killed and Patrolman Patrick Durkin was mortally wounded by a man they attempted to arrest at the Chicago Public Library on Michigan Street. The man, wanted for a bank robbery in Neponset eight days earlier, had gone to the library to meet his wife who helped police set up a trap for him. When he saw the officers approaching he produced a pistol and opened fire. Both Patrolman Ruth and Patrolman Durken, along with a third officer, were struck in an exchange of fire. The subject ran up Randolph Street but was tackled by a store clerk and arrested by police. Patrolman Ruthy died minutes later. Patrolman Durkin died at a local hospital two days later. The subject was convicted of murdering both officers on May 29th, 1931, and was subsequently executed in the electric chair on October 16th, 1931.

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Ruthy served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Ruthy.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Chicago, Cook County, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 30, 1931

Badge Number 4158

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Anthony 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

III

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