Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch Sunday, May 9, 1886
Add to My HeroesMichael Sheehan
Officer Michael Sheehan succumbed to wounds received five days earlier during the Haymarket Square riot.
Officer Michael Sheehan arrived with several other officers to disperse a protest meeting near Haymarket Square. On May 4, 1886, a bomb was thrown at the officers from an alley. The explosion was followed by an intense gun battle. Officer Sheehan sustained two serious gunshot wounds. He died five days later. Officer Sheehan was the fifth of eight officers to die the historic Haymarket Tragedy.
Eight men were arrested and charged with murder. Seven were sentenced to death and the other one got 15 years. On November 11, 1887, four were executed by hanging. The day before one killed himself by exploding a dynamite cap in his mouth. The other three were pardoned by Governor Altgeld in 1893.
Officer Sheehan served with the Chicago Police Department for 18 months. He was survived by his parents and brother.
Eight police officers were killed during the Haymarket Riot labor dispute. The officers were at the scene of a civil disorder when the rioters opened fire and threw a bomb into the crowd. Eight police officers suffered fatal wounds and 70 other people were injured by the gunfire and explosion.
The officers who were killed included Patrolman Mathias Degan, Patrolman John Barrett, Patrolman George Miller, Patrolman Timothy Flavin, Patrolman Thomas Redden, Patrolman Nels Hansen and Patrolman Michael Sheehan. Patrolman Timothy Sullivan succumbed to his wounds two years later, on June 13, 1888.
Bio
- Age 29
- Tour 1 year, 4 months
- Badge 545
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Tuesday, May 4, 1886
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Four executed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 11 ReflectionsNo passage of time can ever erase your service and sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)
May 6, 2021
Recent LODD Deaths
Patrolman Justin Hare
New Mexico State Police, NM
EOW: March 15, 2024
Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello
Genesee County Sheriff's Office, NY
EOW: March 10, 2024
Border Patrol Agent Christopher Luna
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: March 8, 2024
Trooper Christopher M. Gadd
Washington State Patrol, WA
EOW: March 2, 2024
Officer Cody Allen
Independence Police Department, MO
EOW: February 29, 2024
Police Officer Wisbens Antoine
Knoxville Police Department, TN
EOW: February 25, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Charles Rivette
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: February 21, 2024
Trooper First Class Chase Winston Redner
Georgia State Patrol, GA
EOW: February 20, 2024
Police Officer Matthew Henke Ruge
Burnsville Police Department, MN
EOW: February 18, 2024