Patrolman Kaner | Star #2662

Patrolman Kenneth Guy Kaner, Star #2662, aged 33 years, was a 9 year, 0 month, 21 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 7th District – Englewood.

On June 19, 1970, at 1:25 a.m., Officer Kaner was working the first watch on beat 723. He was parked and sitting in his squad car at 700 West 74th Street completing a missing person report. As he was working on the report five assailants approached his squad car and one fired a 12-gauge shotgun through the open passenger side window. Officer Kaner was shot in the right side of the face and mortally wounded. His service revolver was taken and the gunmen, Bruce Sharp, age 24, fled in a vehicle with four accomplices; Jerome Amos, age 23, Dwight Cavin, age 17, Bradley Green, age 23 and William Redwine, age 23. Officer Kaner was transported to St. Bernard Hospital by beat 773 where he was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Governale at 1:50 a.m. on June 19, 1970.

The getaway vehicle was stopped within minutes for a missing license plate by Patrolmen Carl Malik and Edward Brown of the 7th District Tactical Unit. Unaware of the shooting that had just occurred the officers curbed the vehicle at 71st Street and Union Avenue. As the officers approached the car they observed a sawed-off shotgun inside. Just then they heard the broadcast of the shooting come over the radio. They alerted the dispatcher that they had the suspects stopped. The men were taken into custody and Officer Kaner’s weapon was recovered along with another handgun. Sharp’s brother, Tyrone Sharp, was a Chicago Police Officer assigned to the CTA Task Force Detail.

All of the men were arrested and stood trial. All were found guilty except Amos and given varying sentences. On January 19, 1971, Bruce Sharp was sentenced to 30 to 125 years in prison. He is currently serving his time in the Dixon Correctional Center. In 2007, Sharp became eligible for parole, but it was denied by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. The vote was nine against parole and three for parole. In 2012, Sharp became eligible for parole again. On November 29, 2012, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied his parole. The vote was 10 against parole and 4 for parole.

Officer Kaner was waked at Wolniak Funeral Home located at 5700 South Pulaski Road. His funeral mass was held at St. Turlbius Church located at 5646 South Karlov Avenue. He was laid to rest on June 22, 1970 in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, 3801 West 87th Street, Evergreen Park, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot South Gr. 1774 / North Gr. 1776, Block –, Section AM.

Patrolman Kenneth Guy Kaner, born October 15, 1936, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on May 29, 1961.

Officer Kaner served in the U.S. Army from January 14, 1957 thru January 13, 1959 and was Honorably Discharged. He was survived by his wife, Pauline Katherine (nee Vacco), age 3; children: Kimberly, age 7 and Kurt Guy, age 5 and siblings: Donald R and Mary D. He was preceded in death by his parents: Anna (nee Ludvik) and Guy. His son Kurt would also become a Chicago Police Officer and serve in the Marine unit. Officer Kaner was also a former city Golden Gloves middleweight boxing champion.

Incident Recorded Under Chicago Police Department RD #J248024.

On October 21, 1982, the police department honored Officer Kaner’s memory by naming the M-1 police boat in the Department’s Marine Unit after him.