Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Friday, August 25, 1939
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 10 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: August 19, 1939
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Emmett Laughlin succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile accident six days earlier.
Patrolman Laughlin, along with two other officers, were responding to a call when their vehicle collided with another car at the intersection of S. Union Avenue and W. 14th Street. Patrolman Laughlin suffered a fractured skull in the accident and succumbed to his injuries at Mother Cabrini Hospital.
The driver of the vehicle that caused the crash was charged with reckless driving, failure to yield to a police car, and driving without lights.
Patrolman Laughlin had served with the Chicago Police Department for over 10 years. He was survived by his wife and son.
On March 9th, 1960, Patrolman Laughlin's son, Patrolman Dennis Laughlin, suffered a fatal heart attack in the line of duty while struggling with a suspect.