Patrolman Joseph A. Bender

Joseph A. Bender

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.