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Samuel M. Black
Agency patch
Patrolman

Samuel M. Black

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch December 16, 1944
Age 53
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Badge 1121
The Vigil Panel 181 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Samuel M. Black and Patrolman Ezra Caldwell were shot and killed after responding to reports of a domestic disturbance at an apartment at 5147 Prairie Avenue. The subject had just shot and killed his wife as the two officers arrived on the scene. He fatally shot Patrolman Black in the face as he entered the apartment. The man then fled downstairs and exchanged shots with Patrolman Caldwell. The assailant was shot three times and wounded, and Patrolman Caldwell was fatally wounded, when the officer slipped and fell as he tried to take cover. The man was shot three more times by other responding officers but recovered to stand trial. He was convicted of murder, sentenced to death, and subsequently executed in the electric chair on October 19th, 1945. Patrolman Black had served with the Chicago Police Department for 27 years and was assigned to the South Wabash Avenue Station (modern day District 2).

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

27 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Black gave the Chicago Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Black.

— 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 December 16, 1944
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Age 53
Badge Number 1121
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Samuel 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1944, 59 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 53. 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. Samuel had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Samuel M. Black

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch December 16, 1944

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-E

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