Police Officer Herman J. Malow Jr.
Oak Park Police Department
Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 14, 1916

Biographical Info
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: 139

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, June 14, 1916
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Executed in 1918

Officer Herman Malow was shot and killed when he was approaching a disturbance between the occupants of two parked cars.

Officer Malow and another officer observed the disturbance on Washington west of Cuyler streets. As they approached, Officer Malow was shot below the heart and thrown from his motorcycle, never having drawn his service revolver. The other officer chased one of the vehicles south on Ridgeland and east on Madison while engaged in a running gun battle. At Madison and Parkside, the pursuing officer was shot, lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. Although critically wounded, he survived. Both suspect cars were found to be stolen.

Following an intensive investigation and manhunt by Oak Park and Chicago police, four suspects were arrested. One suspect served three years in prison for the murder and an additional year for escape, and died in 1932. The suspect identified as the gunman in both shootings was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On December 6, 1918, he was executed by hanging at the Cook County Jail.

Officer Malow had served with the Oak Park Police Department for one year and was survived by his wife of less than a year and two-week-old daughter. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery.