Sergeant James R. Schaffer

Sergeant James R. Schaffer

Chicago Police Department, Illinois

End of Watch Monday, April 14, 1969

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James R. Schaffer

Sergeant James Schaffer and Detective Jerome A. Stubig were killed near the beginning of a rampage by a berserk gunman.

Sergeant Schaffer and Detective Stubig were the first to arrive at the scene where two fellow officers had been shot. Six policemen and two civilians were also injured in the six-hour gun battle between a former marine, and hundreds of heavily armed police at 9521 South Exchange Avenue.

The explosion from a bomb thrown at the two officers by the suspect first injured both men. As they laid injured, the suspect emptied his carbine into both men, killing them.

The incident began when two detectives knocked on the suspect’s door and announced they were police officers. They were there to investigate a series of bombings. He answered the knock with gunfire.

The suspect surrendered to Police Superintendent James Rochford at 9:00 p.m. that evening. The bomb squad defused 40 bombs in his home.

Two weeks earlier the 43-year-old suspect set off a bomb in a department store killing a woman and injuring several more shoppers. A week later a bomb exploded in a railroad yard killing a man. The suspect, known as the "South Chicago Bomber", was adjudged insane and sent to Chester Mental Hospital in Menard where he died in 2014.

Sergeant Schaffer was U.S. Army veteran of WWII. His wife and daughter survive him.

Bio

  • Age 48
  • Tour Not available
  • Badge 824
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Rifle; .32 caliber carbine
  • Offender Died in mental hospital

bomb threat, EDP, shots fired call

Most Recent Reflection

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Thank you for your service, both military as well as police, and please know that your heroic sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

April 14, 2021

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