Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Sunday, September 16, 1928
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: 1544
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 14, 1928
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Released between 1941 and 1943
Patrolman James J. O'Brien was shot to death and his partner was critically wounded at 1:45 A.M. at the southwest corner of 63rd and Halsted Streets by an 25-year-old auto thief who was also wounded by O'Brien's partner. The officers came upon him as he was tampering with a car door lock. Although wounded, he escaped in a stolen car but was captured the same day in a doctor's office in Oak Lawn where he went for medical aid.
On September 17th, 1928, he was held by the coroner to the grand jury, which indicted him for murder. The suspect, age 27, was convicted of Patrolman O'Brien's murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison on January 25th, 1929. He applied for clemency on April 8, 1939. He was released at some point between 1941 and 1943. The exact date is unknown.
Patrolman O'Brien had served with the Chicago Police Department for six years and was assigned to the 15th District. He was survived by his wife and five sons. He was a World War I veteran.