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Patrolman

Edward F. Smith

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch May 30, 1931

Age 33

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 8 mo

Badge 4567

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Edward Smith was shot and killed by a juvenile whom he had caught swimming in the John Marshall High School swimming pool after hours. The boy, 15, his brother, 13, and another boy, 15, he was swimming with were arrested. Investigating officers were perplexed when he confessed to the murder and described how he did it but showed no emotion or remorse. After the three were detained, he said he and the others were putting their clothes back on when a .22 caliber pistol, which he had stolen from a desk in the principal's office, fell from his pocket. He said he picked it up and shot Patrolman Smith because he thought he was going to shoot him. He was arrested and charged with murder. At his probable cause hearing seven days later, the judge suggested that the murder charge should be reduced to manslaughter. On July 28, 1931, the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 18 years. His attorney immediately appealed. The Illinois Supreme Court awarded a new trial. On January 27, 1933, he was retried and acquitted. The jury stated that the more than two years he spent in jail was sufficient for his crime and that they were convinced when he committed the murder, he did not know right from wrong. They also said he had been hopelessly influenced by movies and books about gangsters. Patrolman Smith had served with the Chicago Police Department for over three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three-year-old daughter, mother, and two brothers.

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 Smith gave the Chicago Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.

— 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 May 30, 1931

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 8 mo

Age 33

Badge Number 4567

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edward is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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

Who

Edward was 33. 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. Edward had served 3.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

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