Lee R. Seward
Agency patch
Patrol Specialist

Lee R. Seward

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch December 30, 1987
Age 43
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Badge 15906
Gender Male

Incident

Patrol Specialist Lee Seward was shot and killed at 8:30 pm after he and several officers responded to a noise complaint at 4126 1/2 North Sheridan Road. Officers had responded to the location for a similar complaint earlier in the day. During the first response the man was told if the officers had to come back he was going to jail. When the officers returned the man was able to gain control of one of the officers' service weapons and opened fire, fatally wounding Specialist Seward. The man was then shot and killed by another officer. Specialist Seward had served with the Chicago Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

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.
Patrol Specialist Seward gave the Chicago Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Specialist Seward.

— 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 30, 1987
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 15906
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Lee is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1987, 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

Lee was 43. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Lee had served 16 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. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrol Specialist Lee R. Seward

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch December 30, 1987

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 11-W

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