Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Tuesday, April 19, 1966
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: 1570
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 19, 1966
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 100+ years
Sergeant Claude Fisher was shot and killed as he thwarted an armed robbery while off duty.
He was sitting at the bar in O'Riley’s Tavern at 4622 S. Western Avenue when he observed several suspicious subjects walk by the front of the tavern. A few seconds later the front door opened and three men walked in, one armed with a shotgun and another with a revolver, announcing a hold-up. Sergeant Fisher and the two armed offenders fired simultaneously. Sergeant Fisher was fatally shot during the gun battle and had apparently wounded one of the offenders. The offender fled the scene.
The subject was arrested the following day for an unrelated assault. Confronted with the evidence of Sergeant Fisher's murder, the man confessed and gave the names of the other offenders.
The three defendants, 18, 19, and 23, were indicted by the Grand Jury on April 27th, 1966, for murder and two counts of robbery. One defendant entered a plea of guilty. On October 17th, 1966, the three were sentenced to the Illinois State Penitentiary. The leader of the group was sentenced to 100 to 150 years. The other two men were sentenced to 50 to 100 years.
Sergeant Fisher had served with the Chicago Police Department for 11 years and was assigned to the Prairie District. His wife and five children survive him.