Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Sunday, May 9, 1886
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 4 months
Badge Number: 545
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 4, 1886
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Four executed
Officer Michael Sheehan succumbed to wounds received five days earlier during the Haymarket Square riot.
Officer Michael Sheehan arrived with several other officers to disperse a protest meeting near Haymarket Square. On May 4, 1886, a bomb was thrown at the officers from an alley. The explosion was followed by an intense gun battle. Officer Sheehan sustained two serious gunshot wounds. He died five days later. Officer Sheehan was the fifth of eight officers to die the historic Haymarket Tragedy.
Eight men were arrested and charged with murder. Seven were sentenced to death and the other one got 15 years. On November 11, 1887, four were executed by hanging. The day before one killed himself by exploding a dynamite cap in his mouth. The other three were pardoned by Governor Altgeld in 1893.
Officer Sheehan served with the Chicago Police Department for 18 months. He was survived by his parents and brother.