Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Monday, May 17, 1886
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: 621
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 4, 1886
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Four executed
Patrolman Thomas Redden succumbed to injuries received two weeks earlier.
Patrolman Redden was one of many officers detailed to disperse protesters near Haymarket Square on May 4, 1886. Suddenly, a bomb exploded and a gun battle ensued. Patrolman Redden suffered several gunshot wounds during the gun battle, as well as serious injuries from the bomb blast. Patrolman Redden was the sixth of eight officers to die in this incident.
Patrolman Redden had served with the Chicago Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the 3rd Precinct. He was survived by his wife and two children.
Eight men were arrested and charged with the officer's murders. Seven were convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The other one was sentenced to 15 years. On November 11, 1887, four of them were executed by hanging. The day before one of the suspects killed himself in his cell with a smuggled dynamite cap which he detonated in his mouth. The other three were pardoned by Governor Altgeld in 1893.
Patrolman Redden was born at sea during a voyage with his family from England to America in 1836. He was survived by his wife and two children.