Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Thursday, April 30, 1931
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 4158
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 30, 1931
Weapon Used: Handgun; .25 caliber
Suspect Info: Executed in 1931
Patrolman Anthony Ruthy was shot and killed and Patrolman Patrick Durkin was mortally wounded by a man they attempted to arrest at the Chicago Public Library on Michigan Street.
The man, wanted for a bank robbery in Neponset eight days earlier, had gone to the library to meet his wife who helped police set up a trap for him. When he saw the officers approaching he produced a pistol and opened fire. Both Patrolman Ruth and Patrolman Durken, along with a third officer, were struck in an exchange of fire. The subject ran up Randolph Street but was tackled by a store clerk and arrested by police.
Patrolman Ruthy died minutes later. Patrolman Durkin died at a local hospital two days later.
The subject was convicted of murdering both officers on May 29th, 1931, and was subsequently executed in the electric chair on October 16th, 1931.