Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 2 years, 11 months, 15 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: Motorcycle Division
District of Incident (Present Day): Evergreen Park, IL
Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile (Pursuit)
Age at Time of Death: 32
Timeline
Date of Birth: 24 Feb 1914
Date of Appointment: 05 Feb 1944
Date of Incident: 19 Jan 1947
End of Watch: 20 Jan 1947
Date of Interment: 24 Jan 1947
Interment Details
Cemetery: St. Mary Catholic Cemetery - Evergreen Park, Illinois
Grave Location: Lot 377, Block --, Section DX
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-2
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 4
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 5, Line 19
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 62-E: 27
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Donald Henry Schodrof, Sr., Star #4382, aged 32 years, was a 2 year, 11 month, 15 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Motorcycle Division.
On January 19, 1947, Officer Schodrof was on duty riding his police motorcycle when he initiated a traffic pursuit at 83rd and Western Avenue. He pursued the speeding vehicle Southbound on Western Avenue. On the 9700 block of South Western a vehicle driven by Ivan D. Smith, age 29, of 5012 North Winthrop Avenue, Smith made an unexpected left turn in front of Officer Schodrof. Officer Schdrof, in an attempt to avoid colliding with Smith’s car, swerved and struck Smith’s car before striking a parked car at 9750 South Western Avenue, Evergreen Park, Illinois. The parked car was owned by John Nelson of 9825 South Meade Avenue, Oaklawn, Illinois. The impact of the crash caused both the car and motorcycle to catch fire. Officer Schodrof was transported to Little Company of Mary Hospital where he succumbed to injuries the next day.
Ivan Smith was arrested and charged with reckless driving.
Officer Schodrof was waked at a funeral home located at 69th and Justine Street. He was laid to rest on January 24, 1947 in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, 3801 West 87th Street, Evergreen Park, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot 377, Block –, Section DX.
Patrolman Donald Henry Schodrof, Sr., born February 24, 1914, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on February 5, 1944.
Officer Schodrof was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association. He was survived by his wife, Evelyn Veronica (nee Wesensten), age 32; children: Donald Henry, Jr., age 25, Ellen, John Charles, age 11, Karen, Mary, Michael and Robert; parents: Alette (nee Vanderkloot) and Henry Frank, brother, Harry and granddaughter, Jennifer (Berwyn Police Department).
On January 11, 2006, Officer Schodrof’s star was retired by Superintendent Philip J. Cline and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.