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Joseph A. Bender
Agency patch
Patrolman

Joseph A. Bender

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch February 10, 1927
Age 30
Badge 2958
The Vigil Panel 120 · Column 1 · Line 16 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Bender was standing in front of his home near 57th Street and Paulina Street when he observed an automobile parked nearby. Two armed offenders exited, approached Patrolman Bender, and announced a robbery. When Patrolman Bender resisted one of the gunmen fired and fatally wounded him. His 6-year-old son, standing at the front door waiting to greet his father, witnessed the shooting. Two men, ages 18 and 19, were arrested for Patrolman Bender's murder a few days later after they wrecked a car they had stolen. Patrolman Bender had been shot with another officer's service revolver. That officer had been robbed in the exact same way by the suspects hours earlier. Both officers were in civilian clothes. During a 10-day crime spree, both suspects were found to be responsible for over 50 other robberies and they shot and critically wounded another man. They were both sentenced to life in Joliet Prison. One was paroled on October 5th, 1951.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Bender served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bender.

— 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 February 10, 1927
Age 30
Badge Number 2958
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 30. 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.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Joseph A. Bender

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch February 10, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-W

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