Austin L. Fitch
Agency patch
Police Officer

Austin L. Fitch

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Accident
End of Watch November 24, 1914
Age 34
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 3 mo
The Vigil Panel 68 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Austin Fitch succumbed to injuries sustained one week earlier when he was involved in a motorcycle crash while on patrol.

He crashed into a pedestrian after swerving to avoid debris in the roadway in front of 4358 Honore Street. He suffered a fractured skull in the crash.

The pedestrian recovered from his injuries and went on to serve as Governor of Illinois.

Officer Fitch had served with the Chicago Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

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

— 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 November 24, 1914
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 3 mo
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Austin is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1914, 34 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 114th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Austin was 34. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Austin had served 3.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Austin L. Fitch

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch November 24, 1914

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-E

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