Sam Charles

Sam Charles is a criminal justice reporter for the Chicago Tribune covering the Chicago Police Department. He was previously a staff reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times and an investigative producer at WGN-TV. He is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago.

Chicago police officers salute during ceremonies at the conclusion of funeral services for slain 17th District police Officer John Bartholomew at St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Church on May 8, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

‘A cop’s cop’: Mourners gather to remember slain Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew

May 8, 2026 at 7:17 p.m.

Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling called fallen Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew a "cop's cop," remembering a photograph of the patrol officer wearing a helmet while working hard during the...

Blue ribbons are hung and red roses are left at the front door of the 17th District station, April 26, 2026, in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood after police Officer John Bartholomew was fatally shot and another officer wounded April 25 at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Two officers face internal affairs probe over search of suspect before shooting of cops at Chicago hospital

May 1, 2026 at 4:39 p.m.

The Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Internal Affairs has opened an investigation into two officers who searched Alphanso Talley last weekend before he was taken to Swedish Hospital where he...

Police Officer John Bartholomew was fatally shot at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital. (Chicago Police Department)

Funeral services for slain CPD officer John Bartholomew set for next week

April 30, 2026 at 7:46 p.m.

Visitation and funeral services for slain Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew are set for next Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, at St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church in Edgewater.

Bartholomew family members and a Chicago police special activities officer walk following a detention hearing for Alphanso Talley at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, April 30, 2026. Talley is accused of killing Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew and critically wounding his partner while escaping from Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

‘If you are out, you are dangerous’: Judge again orders detention for man accused of shooting officers at Swedish Hospital

April 30, 2026 at 5:22 p.m.

The man accused of killing a North Side police officer and critically wounding his partner while escaping from Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital will continue to be detained.

Hospital shooting of 2 Chicago cops shows gaps in Cook County’s electronic-monitoring system

April 29, 2026 at 5:49 p.m.

About seven weeks before Alphanso Talley allegedly snuck a gun into a hospital and shot the pair of cops guarding him, his electronic monitor went into “sleep mode” and officials...

A shooting suspect was located in the alley of the 2600 block of West Winona Street near Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital after he allegedly shot two officers on April 25, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Questions swirl around handling of prior cases against defendant in double police shooting at Chicago hospital

April 28, 2026 at 7:52 p.m.

The criminal history of the man charged with shooting a pair of Chicago police officers is the focus as the defendant makes new court appearance.

Family members depart the Leighton Criminal Court Building on April 27, 2026, after an appearance by Alphanso Talley, the man charged with the fatal shooting of Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew and wounding of a second officer on Saturday at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Authorities allege gun illegally bought, hidden under hospital blanket before man shot two cops

April 27, 2026 at 5:18 p.m.

Two days after the fatal shooting of one Chicago police officer and wounding of a second at a Chicago hospital, the man initially arrested in the case has been criminally...

An image from body-worn camera video shows the moments leading up to the death of Officer Krystal Rivera, the Gresham (6th) District tactical officer fatally shot last year by her partner, Carlos Baker, in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. (COPA)

Harrowing video of Officer Krystal Rivera’s partner fatally shooting her during a foot chase is made public

April 17, 2026 at 6:26 p.m.

The city on Friday released videos showing the fatal shooting of Officer Krystal Rivera, the tactical officer fatally shot last year by her partner in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.

Karen Archer, front left, weeps while holding hands with the Rev. Shari Johnson as they lead a community walk in memory of their friend and neighbor, Barbara Deer, and her son Kaleb, in the 3500 block of West Arthington Street, April 15, 2026, in Chicago's Garfield Park neighborhood. Barbara and Kaleb were found dead from gunshots in their home on April 14. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Garfield Park neighbors and elected officials mourn wife and son of former Cook County commissioner

April 15, 2026 at 8:34 p.m.

Officials said the widow and son of former Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer died in a murder-suicide.

Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling stands with other officers while people gather near the Congress Plaza Gardens to protest immigration enforcement actions in the city on Sept. 6, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

CPD Superintendent Snelling pushes back on call to probe rising use-of-force incidents

April 14, 2026 at 5:19 p.m.

The Illinois attorney general's office noted the “concerning” trend of rising uses of force reporting, including in interactions with juveniles.

All Stories