Toledo Police Museum makes exhibit honoring officer, Army veteran permanent

11/10/2017

As the city marks Veteran’s Day, the Toledo Police Department remembers the only man from its own ranks to be killed in an overseas combat zone.

Second Lieutenant Jacob Chandler, 27, was killed Feb. 9, 1945, when he stepped on a German land mine in Italy. Mr. Chandler had taken leave from TPD to join the Army, where he was assigned to the segregated 92nd Infantry Division.

Shirley Green, the director of the Toledo Police Museum, said Mr. Chandler was born in Georgia but came to Toledo as a young boy during the Great Migration. He graduated from Scott High School and later the University of Toledo, where he studied education.

The museum dedicated an exhibit to Mr. Chandler in 2015, featuring some of his personal affects and medals. Ms. Green said Mr. Chandler was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Silver Star. He’s buried in the Florence American Cemetery in Italy.

The exhibit was originally to be temporary, but later made permanent. 

“It talks about heroism but it talks about a young officer who really dedicated his life to service,” Ms. Green said.