Bio & Incident Details
Age: 28
Tour: 7 years
Badge # 5421
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 5/22/1929
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Not available
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Patrolman Joseph J. Sullivan was shot to death in a hand-to-hand battle in the notorious Red Bolton Saloon at 1610 Polk Street. The manager of the establishment was being sought for the murder after police received an anonymous phone tip regarding the murder of Patrolman Raymond Martin.
The killer surrendered and police learned that Officer Sullivan had been in the saloon only a short time before he was slain. He was said to be trying to gain information related to the kidnapping in which Detective Raymond Martin was killed. This supported the theory that Officer Sullivan was killed because he found an important clue in the investigation.
Another support for this contention was revealed when the officer’s fiance told investigators that Sullivan phoned her hours earlier and told her he intended to visit the saloon to search for a suspect in the kidnapping.
Officer Sullivan was survived by his father, Sergeant Jeremiah Sullivan, also a member of the Chicago Police Department.
