Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 17 years, 4 months, 6 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 38th District - Town Hall

District of Incident (Present Day): 019 - Town Hall

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 48

Timeline


Date of Birth: 11 May 1886

Date of Appointment: 18 Sep 1917

Date of Incident: 019 - Town Hall

End of Watch: 24 Jan 1935

Date of Interment: 28 Jan 1935

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Rosehill Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-5

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 12

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 38

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 29-E: 12

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman Alfred Magnus Stokke, Star #2571, aged 48 years, was a 17 year, 4 month, 6 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 38th District – Town Hall.

On January 24, 1935, just before 5:00 p.m., Officer Stokke was assigned to the surveillance of the Meisel Tire Company store located at 4465 North Broadway Avenue. The Chicago Police Department had received a tip that an armed robbery was going to take place there. Keeping watch from a back room, Patrolman Stokke observed a car, occupied by three men, pulled up in front of the store. Three armed offenders, Eugene Wrobleski, age 21, Alex Goralski, age 23 and Anthony Adams, age 24, entered the store and announced a robbery. They robbed the shop’s owner, Carl Adams and a customer, Frank Smith taking $50.00 from the register. When the gunmen ordered the two men to the backroom of the store, Patrolman Stokke surprised them and a gun battle ensued. Tragically, Patrolman Stokke was hit in the head, and groin. The gunman then fled the scene making good their escape. Officer Stokke was transported to Lakeview Hospital where he received a blood transfusion. He succumbed to his injuries at 11:05 p.m. with his two children by his bedside. Before he passed, Patrolman Stokke reported to Captain Patrick O’Connell that he believed he had wounded two of the gunmen.

On September 3, 1935, Anthony Adams, Alex Goralski, and Eugene Wrobleski were arrested and confessed to the murder of Patrolman Stokke. On October 8, 1936, all three men were found guilty and were each sentenced to 75 years in prison.

Officer Stokke in a chapel located at 2114 West Irving Park Road, his funeral mass was also held at the chapel. He was laid to rest on January 28, 1935 in Rosehill Cemetery, 5800 North Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman Alfred Magnus Stokke, born May 11, 1886, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on September 18, 1917. He earned 1 Credible Mention and 1 Extra Compensation for Meritorious Conduct totaling $120.00 during his career.

Officer Stokke was survived by his wife, Helen Theodora (nee Thygesen), age 46.