Officer Irma Ruiz was a charismatic, hardworking mother, sister, and daughter who “took care of everyone” because “that’s just how she was”. She graduated from the Police Academy in 1976 and was on the job for 12 years.

Irma Ruiz was among the early waves of women in the department. In 1973, a Tribune headline referred to the city’s first female detective as a “gal detective.” For the first time, in 1974, female officers were assigned to patrol duties and could wear the same uniform as men.

“She would say she would have to be harder, stronger, faster, because she was a woman and she would easily get picked on or stereotyped,” said the officer’s daughter, Ruiz-Collins.

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On September 22, 1988, Officer Irma Ruiz was shot and killed confronting an armed offender in a school.

A heavily armed gunman went on a shooting rampage, killing three people and wounding another. The assailant then entered an elementary school filled with children. Already in the school, Officer Irma Ruiz learned of the situation and confronted the gunman.

After wounding one officer, the gunman fired at Officer Ruiz. She was mortally wounded in the attack. Despite being wounded, Officer Ruiz’s partner was able to return fire and kill the gunman.

Officer Ruiz had served with the agency for 12 years and is survived by her husband, daughter, and three sons.

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Now Irma Ruiz’s family and friends will have a new place to honor a woman who loved kids and died protecting them. Ruiz has awards, a Chicago school and police horse named after her, and a park in the Archer Heights neighborhood named in her honor.