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Patrolman William A. O'Connor | Chicago Police Department, Illinois
Chicago Police Department, Illinois

Patrolman

William A. O'Connor

Chicago Police Department, Illinois

End of Watch: Monday, June 4, 1928

Biographical Info

Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: 3470

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 3, 1928
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 50 years

Patrolman William A. O'Connor was shot and mortally wounded when he walked in on three men robbing a soft drink parlor at 7135 South Halsted Street.

In an exchange of gunfire Patrolman O'Connor was hit once in the head. He died the next day at Englewood Hospital.

The three suspects, ages 21,21, and 22 were arrested 12 days later. They were found to be responsible for over two dozen other robberies. All three were convicted of Patrolman O'Connor's murder. Two were sentenced to 50 years in prison on August 9th, 1928, and the other to 20 years. The shooter was returned to court two months later to testify in other matters. He managed to slip out of a room he was being held in and escape. He was captured three years later in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The man sentenced to 50 years was paroled in 1950.

Patrolman O'Connor was survived by his wife, mother, and five brothers. Four of his brothers are police officers. He served 18 months in France during World War I.