Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Monday, July 28, 1919
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 4774
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 28, 1919
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Unknown
Patrolman John W. Simpson was shot and killed at the 31st Street Station during a race riot. 25 rioters were killed and 326 were injured over a 13 day period.
This was the worst race riot out of 25 that occurred in the U.S. in 1919. Other riots occurred in Millen, Georgia, Washington D.C., Knoxville, Tennessee, Longview, Texas, Phillips County, Arkansas, Omaha, Nebraska, and most dramatically in Chicago. They became known as the "Red Summer Riots".
Patrolman Simpson was assigned to the 3rd Precinct and is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.