Retiree Murdered in Arkansas
Retired CPD officer, instructor, and perennial aldermanic candidate:
- MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. (AP) — A shooting in northern Arkansas has left one person dead and another in custody.
The Baxter Bulletin reports that 71-year-old Chester Raymond Hornowski was fatally shot Tuesday in a rural Mountain Home residence. Police arrested 59-year-old Robert Dean Penny, alleging he was the one who shot Hornowski.
Baxter County deputies were dispatched to respond to a report of a shooting. Deputies allege they were confronted upon arrival at the residence by Penny, who was driving a pickup truck. Two deputies fired at Penny when he tried to flee, but police say his truck went airborne and hit a vehicle.
Decades in the mean city only to be cut down in retirement. Not the optimal ending. RIP.
Labels: out-of-state
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
54 Comments:
R.I.P. Chester. You were a good man. Scratch Mt Home off my list of places to retire to.
The city isn't the only place that's mean.
WOW! At least he made it out of here!
RIP.
What did he teach at the Academy??
I always liked Chester. I am grief stricken at the way he was gunned down and how terrifying the last moments of his life must have been, hunted by a murderer and then shot through the hands into the face and torso in his own home. Always keep a firearm nearby, we're not superman and the world is a dangerous place. RIP, my friend.
Was he the right/left brain talking guy in the academy??
Rest In Peace,Chester..
RIP Brother. Them Southern states can be violent. Fl, Tn, Ark included. Many PO's killed in these states. Look Officer Down Memorial Page and the map of on duty officers killed is very heavily concentrated in the South.
Rest In Peace. Office
Chester, the man who would be mayor. I remember the numerous public offices he ran for in the 80's. Who'd ever think he'd go out like this?
How can one survive Chicago and it comes to this. Give the best years of your life and have a short retirement end this way?
This man is with the Lord. Very sorry for the loss.
NOT ILLINOIS. NOT LAW.
He was a good man. He taught law and procedure in the academy when I came on in 1992. He was a funny guy and kept us interested in what he was teaching. Rest In Peace Chester Hornowski!
Chester you were a breath of fresh air when I went through the Academy, worked to help recruits not screw with them, may God take care of you!!
Please, 600 killed each year (average) and 1000 killed each year in 74 & 75 when I came on the job and was parachuted into the old 003 at 76th and Maryland. I know of at least 10 coppers killed in the line of duty in my 31 years .I have been retired in Mountain Home for the last 13 years and its been the BEST MOVE WE EVER MADE ! Low crime and maybe just maybe 5 homicides in 13 years in a town on 12,500 and 35,000 in Baxter County and 5 homicides ? $1000.00 taxes a year on a $300 K home with 8 acres , Two great fishing reservoirs, Two great trout rivers and No LOW INFORMATION VOTERS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME !! Enjoy life in Shitcago boys and girls and when your retire , get the fuck out of Dodge ! Come join us down here , Life is great in Mountain Home, AR. 8hrs from Shitcago so mama cant bitch about never seeing the grand kids, Its a one day ride back to see them or them to come visit you.Fuck Emanuel and Shitcago !!!
Chester was the cop assigned to my HS in the late 80's. Strangely enough, a lot my family retired to Mountain Home- a place I know well and sadly the big city is moving in there,too. RIP Mr. Hornowski. You are missed and will be for a long time to come.
Was he the right/left brain talking guy in the academy??
12/07/2017 01:23:00 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No! Chester was a great guy and actually the working police during his career, so when he spoke to recruits he spoke about actual police /citizen encounters. Not some wackadoodle stuff stolen from so other person and passed off to recruits as something that might work on the street.
RIP Chester. Great guy.
I had heard it was a dispute over a repossessed vehicle that Chester sold to the offender.
Hornowski was an awesome teacher. He would “ cut the fluff” as he would say and only teacher what was vital to passing the state test.
I remember that name...Chester Hornowski, what district did he work in?
Chester Hornowski spent decades on the street protecting Chicago and he did four (4) terms in Vietnam during the war. GOD BLESS you Chester, you will be missed.
Was Chester's Sgt in 013. Viet Nam Vet, USMC, tough guy when called for. Got involved in politics but was still a good man. RIP Chester.
RIP Chester
Yes, he was the instructor that took all the "Fluff" out of the instructional material. Taught us what we needed to know, and how to remember it all. Sad.
God’s speed Chester, a good man from 13.
Left brain,right brain.
Rest In Peace Chester.
I'm so sorry to hear that, he was a great instructor at the academy in the 90's and a true gentleman to P.O's
RIP, what was the motive?
Cheater was a good man and friend. Rest In Peace brother.
Chester was a good guy. He stayed out of harm's way on the CPD only to get gunned down there. He had some time in the army also.
RIP Godspeed Chester was unique, but like many of us insane enough to finish his career!
RIP brother you will be missed!
I now live out of state in a very nice area but my gun is by my side 24/7!
walking the dog getting groceries sitting on the couch watching TV! Never let your guard down!
You were crazy but will be missed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He certainly spent lots of time courting favors from Dick Mell for a Republican. He was a heavy gambler too so politics was just another game of chance for him.
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Chester wasn’t perfect. But he was a friendly well meaning guy, easy to talk to and willing to help if he can. It is a shame the way he was killed raising them hands had him in a defensive posture and those last moments must’ve been horrible. I remember when he told me he was moving to Arkansas and how excited he was. RIP my friend
FYI. Bureau of Justice statistics says that 80% of killers know their victims so this really adds a twist to fate.
Chester was a great guy. He was very approachable and would give you the help you needed in the academy.
Always carry no matter where you are. I was hanging Christmas lights outside today and had my Glock 21 on my side.
RIP Chester.
I have scratched mountain Home AR off my retirement list.
R.I.P. Officer.
J.J.
Terrible, disgusting news. RIP fine Sir.
Knew him in the academy. He cared about the recruits. Did a lot to help them. Counseled those that failed State exam. Good guy, expressed interest and concern.
Worked the wagon with Chester once in 014 when I was a recruit in 86. I thought he was a good guy.
Rest in peace office.
RIP you were a great instructor in the Academy.
95-6
He was a true patrolman
Chester was in Albany Park for a long time.
Officer Chester Hornowski was our Home Room Instructor for the first few weeks in the Academy 95-6 D Class. What a Nice Man! Officer Chester ALWAYS treated us with RESPECT from Day one in the Academy. Officer Chester Hornowski R.I.P. A True Old School Copper and a Gentleman! May the LORD comfort your Family and Friends during these Difficult times.
95-6 Class
Chester was a good man. RIP.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Knew him in the academy. He cared about the recruits. Did a lot to help them. Counseled those that failed State exam. Good guy, expressed interest and concern.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Chester was a great guy. He was very approachable and would give you the help you needed in the academy
Someone needed help to pass the state test? and help in the academy
Not the academy I went to
Without reference to his political shenanigans and other faults, I must tell you that Hornowski was an excellent copper of the old school who had good street instincts and did not "stay fetal." For many years, he remained in an inner city neighborhood that changed from Polish to Latino rather than moving to Edison Park. He made numerous arrests while off duty and out of uniform when he saw a street crime going down. When he was young and athletic, he often gave chase on foot and captured criminals who were trying to outrun him.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Chester was a great guy. He was very approachable and would give you the help you needed in the academy
To: Someone needed help to pass the state test? and help in the academy
Not the academy I went to
I agree, the CPD academy you went to was like Sunday school compared to the CPD academy we went to years ago.
Chester was my Grandfather. Thank you for all the kind words spoken towards my Grandpa. He was my role model and will be missed greatly.
There has been more detailed information released today.
The defendant was living at the same address on Old Military Road in Mountain Home, Arkansas where Hornowski was operating a boarding house out of his home. Some of you from the Albany Park police station may recall that Chester also rented rooms out of his building on North Drake Avenue in Chicago back in the day.
An argument ensued after a complaint arose between two boarders concerning noise. Hornowski told the murder defendant that he was going to be evicted and the two men began throwing punches. The fight escalated and the accused killer shot at Hornowski eighteen times.
From: Arkansas On line (12/11/2017):
Robert Penny allegedly killed Chester Raymond Hornowski in the early morning hours of Dec. 5 over a noise complaint, according to an affidavit filed in the murder case against the 59-year-old rural Mountain Home man.
On the morning of Hornowski's killing, Penny allegedly spoke to another resident of a boarding house on the Old Military Road property. Penny allegedly confronted the man about noise that disturbed him.
The man informed the property owner of Penny's complaint and a meeting was called of the residents. When the man was walking towards the area of the meeting, he reportedly heard multiple gunshots.
The man encountered Penny walking out of a room, and Penny reportedly said to the man "Yeah he's dead, you want some of this too?" according to the affidavit.
The man tried to flee but slipped, fell and struck his head on a table. He got up, ran to his room and called 911. According to the affidavit, gunfire can be heard in the background of that 911 call, four shots in all.
As deputies raced to the scene along with Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, they were eventually joined by troopers from the Arkansas State Police, personnel from the Mountain Home Fire Department, two ambulances, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, members of the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force and eventually the Baxter County Coroner's Office.
Following the shooting, Penny was taken by ambulance to Baxter Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries suffered during the crash. He was later released to law enforcement officers, who transported him to the Baxter County jail.
Investigators interviewed Penny, who said he was in the living room/kitchen area of the home when Hornowski entered the area in a rage, telling him he was going to be evicted.
Penny said Hornowski then punched him three times in the chest. Penny then reportedly told investigators he went to his room and retrieved his pistol.
Then, Penny alleges Hornowski made a gesture like he was going to hit him again so Penny pointed the pistol at Hornowski's center mass and fired 18 shots at the 71-year-old man.
Then, Penny says he reloaded the pistol and shot Hornowski's motionless body four more times because Hornowski had "ruined his life."
Penny is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault and two counts of second-degree felony criminal mischief.
Update on the story: http://www.ktlo.com/2017/12/11/22-rounds-fired-in-homicide-following-dispute-with-landlord/
They all sound like trash at that boarding house.
Rest easy Chester. I still use your study methods thruout my career. Thanks for genuinely caring about the recruits, then the young P.O.'s on the street. You were definitely one of akind.
You may want to bump this up for visibility. The link is to a fairly detailed account of the crime and the retired police officer's life.
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/dec/15/pals-see-irony-in-retiree-s-demise-2017/
He had a boarding house in Chicago too.
He lived an unbelievably -interesting -fulfilling life of so much involvement. He was dynamic for sure. --I will never forget my Criminology Instructor letting him come in and teach our Criminology class on Learning Styles! That was cool.
Loved his compassion for people in need and his love for animals; I thank him also, for who I am.
A super Grandpa. & My father
Chester Hornowski.
(“Number 1 daughter of LIFE!”)
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