John R. Tucker
Agency patch
Patrolman

John R. Tucker

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch October 8, 1968
Age 34
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 9168
The Vigil Panel 104 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John R. Tucker was shot and killed during an armed robbery at 7919 South Ashland Avenue. Patrolman Tucker, who was off duty while and in the bank, observed an armed subject enter and took a position behind a pillar as the gunman approached a teller's cage. Patrolman Tucker was approaching the robber from behind when the gunman turned around and fired. Patrolman Tucker was fatally wounded in the encounter. Other officers and a bank guard who heard the shots from outside shot the man five times as he tried to escape. The 37-year-old killer was convicted of murder and sentenced to 100 to 190 years. He was paroled in 2005.

Survivors

Patrolman Tucker is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Tucker gave the Chicago Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Tucker.

— 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 October 8, 1968
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 9168
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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 1968, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 34. 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. John had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John R. Tucker

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch October 8, 1968

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E

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