Charles A. Brady
Agency patch
Patrolman

Charles A. Brady

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch September 3, 1945
Age 35
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 11 mo
Badge 6795
The Vigil Panel 81 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Charles A. Brady and Patrolman George H. Helstern were shot and killed as they approached a suspicious person at the corner of N. Clark Street and W. Lunt Avenue at 11:10 p.m. Once they announced they were police officers, the subject fired at the officers. Despite returning fire, the subject was not hit and was able to flee. Both officers sustained fatal gunshot wounds in the encounter. Patrolman Helstern was killed instantly. Patrolman Brady was transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds over three hours later. In December 1945, the killer was shot and killed by members of his own gang in fear that he would turn in other gang members. Patrolman Brady had served with the Chicago Police Department for almost three years and previously served with the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, 9 children, parents, and five siblings.

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 Brady gave the Chicago Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Brady.

— 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 September 3, 1945
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 11 mo
Age 35
Badge Number 6795
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1945, 68 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 105th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 35. 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. Charles had served 2.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Charles A. Brady

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch September 3, 1945

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

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