Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 27, 1910
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 2243
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 27, 1910
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Committed Suicide
Patrolman Patrick Melia was shot and killled during a burglary of a rail yard.
Officer Melia was patrolling a railroad yard in the early morning hours when he encountered offenders stealing merchandise from train cars. One of the assailants raised a sawed-off, double-barreled shotgun from under his coat and fired, striking Officer Melia. Officer Melia died at the scene.
Officer Melia's murderer committed suicide in a cell at the stockyards station. He did confess to firing a volley of buckshot into the heart of Officer Melia.