Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Friday, July 29, 1921
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 26, 1921
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: One shot and killed
Police Officer Maurice Leahy succumbed to wounds suffered three days earlier after being involved in a gunbattle with two freight car thieves in Highland Park, Illinois.
Officer Leahy walked in on freight car burglars and was shot once by one suspect. Officer Leahy, having been under fire before, did not fall. He charged at the two suspects and was struck on the head with the butt of a revolver, but again did not fall. Officer Leahy was able to fire five times, killing one suspect. The other suspect was later captured by police. Officer Leahy died three days later of complications from the bullet wound.
Officer Leahy served as a soldier during WWI in the American Expeditionary Force. He was survived by his wife.