Roger W. Van Schaik
Agency patch
Patrolman

Roger W. Van Schaik

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch March 3, 1979
Age 31
Tour of Duty 9 yrs 7 mo
Badge 14299
The Vigil Panel 121 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Roger W. Van Schaik and his partner Patrolman William Bosak were shot and killed in an ambush attack near the intersection of 115th Street and May Street. They were returning to their squad car when a motorist traveling in the opposite direction stopped alongside them and opened fire with an M-1 rifle without warning. The killer was apprehended, convicted of the murder, and sentenced to death. On January 10th, 2003, outgoing Governor George Ryan commuted the death sentences of all 167 Illinois death-row inmates, including the death sentence of Officer Bosak's murderer, as his last act in office. As of November 2022, he is still incarcerated, serving life without parole. Patrolman Van Schaik had served with the Chicago Police Department for over nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, a son, and a brother.

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.
Patrolman Van Schaik gave the Chicago Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Van Schaik.

— 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 March 3, 1979
Tour of Duty 9 yrs 7 mo
Age 31
Badge Number 14299
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Roger is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 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 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Roger was 31. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Roger had served 9.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 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, Roger among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Roger W. Van Schaik

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch March 3, 1979

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W

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