Police Officer Herman J. Malow, Jr.

Herman J. Malow, Jr.

Officer Herman Malow was shot and killed when he was approaching a disturbance between the occupants of two parked cars.

Officer Malow and another officer observed the disturbance on Washington west of Cuyler streets. As they approached, Officer Malow was shot below the heart and thrown from his motorcycle, never having drawn his service revolver. The other officer chased one of the vehicles south on Ridgeland and east on Madison while engaged in a running gunbattle. At Madison and Parkside, the pursuing officer was shot, lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. Although critically wounded, he survived. Both suspect cars were found to be stolen.

Following an intensive investigation and manhunt by Oak Park and Chicago police, four suspects were arrested. One suspect served three years in prison for the murder and an additional year for escape, and died in 1932. The suspect identified as the gunman in both shootings was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On December 6, 1918, he was executed by hanging at the Cook County Jail.

Officer Malow had served with the Oak Park Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife of less than a year and 2-week-old daughter. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery.