Patrolman Joseph Tracz, 27, a former Ohio State football player and Vietnam veteran, had nearly completed his first year on the job when he and his partner, Fred Fulton, stopped a Buick for running a red light near East 105th and St. Clair Avenue on Sept. 28, 1970. Patrolman Joseph Tracz was shot and killed and his partner, Fred Fulton, was seriously injured. As Patrolman Fulton was speaking with the Leonard Miller, Miller suddenly opened fire with a pistol hitting Patrolman Fulton in the groin, chest, and mouth. His passenger, Eddie Hampton, then shot Patrolman Tracz. Patrolman Fulton managed to crawl back to his cruiser and radio for help. Police searched the country for two years for Miller and Hampton. Officers arrested Miller in May 1972 near the site of the shooting after they robbed a bank. Five days later, officers found Hampton hiding in a crawl space inside his sister’s house on city’s southeast side. Both men were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1973.  A month after Tracz died, his son was born. Tracz is survived by his wife and son.

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