Calumet City Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 27, 1939
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 23, 1939
Weapon Used: Handgun; Pistol
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Lieutenant Eugene Iattoni succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered four days earlier upon interrupting an armed robbery at a liquor store at 556 State Line Road.
While on patrol, Lieutenant Iattoni and his partner noticed a masked subject, acting as a lookout, standing outside the store. As both officers exited their squad car, two subjects who had just robbed the clerk of $15, emerged from the front door. A gunbattle ensued resulting in Lieutenant Iattoni being struck in the abdomen as well as a customer and two of the suspects being wounded. The other officer shot at the suspect who acted as a lookout, but he was able to flee in an automobile.
All four men were transported to St. Margaret's Hospital in Hammond, Indiana, where Lieutenant Iattoni died four days later. The store's customer and one of the suspects also died from their wounds suffered in the shootout. The second wounded suspect later pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The suspect who acted as a lookout was arrested by Chicago police the following morning.
Lieutenant Iattoni had served with the Calumet City Police Department for nine years.