Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Tuesday, March 22, 1977
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: 1514
Cause of Death: Struck by train
Date of Incident: March 22, 1977
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Michael Palese was struck and killed by a train while conducting a search for a 6-year-old girl who had not come home the night before.
He was searching railroad tracks near the girl's home during a period of heavy and blowing snow. He was struck by a Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad passenger train on the Roscoe Street trestle, near Kilbourn Park, as he and another officer walked across it at about 12:30 am.
The girl was located at her school the following morning after staying a friend's home that night.
Sergeant Palese had served with the Chicago Police Department for 20 years. He was survived by his son and mother.