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Peter R. Bulfin
Agency patch
Patrolman

Peter R. Bulfin

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch July 13, 1917
Age 41
Badge 1746
The Vigil Panel 75 · Column 4 · Line 5 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Officer Peter Bulfin was shot and killed while escorting two clerks that were transferring bags of money from one bank to another. When the three men entered the transport vehicle, four armed offenders approached them. As Officer Bulfin reached for his service revolver, he was shot by one of the armed offenders. Officer Bulfin died instantly. The robbers overlooked the bulk of the money being transported, ($12,000.00), and fled with $100 in nickels. One of the suspects had escaped from a prison honor farm at Lockport a month earlier where he was serving a life sentence for murder. On August 12, 1917, he was arrested in Crown Point, Indiana, for a murder he committed there. Six weeks later, after four witnesses identified him as one of Officer Bulfin's killers, he committed suicide by slitting his throat in his jail cell. Officer Bulfin was survived by his wife and seven children. He had been predeceased by two children.

Survivors

Officer Bulfin was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Bulfin served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bulfin.

— 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 July 13, 1917
Age 41
Badge Number 1746
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Peter 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 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Peter was 41. 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

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Patrolman Peter R. Bulfin

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch July 13, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-E

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