Detective Wayne George King | Star #7413

Detective Wayne George King, Star #7413, aged 53 years, was 22 year, 7 month, 16 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Operational Services: Unit 543 – Detached Services / City of Chicago Office of Municipal Investigations.

On July 12, 1985, Roosevelt Carr, age 35, of 1407 North Lorel Avenue, was posing as a police officer and city inspector. He had spent the afternoon obtaining cash payoffs in multiple shakedowns on the south side of the city. Carr convinced and Army recruiter and prospective enlistee to drive him around while obtaining the payoffs. One of Carr’s marks, a local businessman, recognized Carr as a grifter and immediately called the Office of Municipal Investigations (OMI) to report his activities. A warrant was previously issued for Carr for impersonating and deceptive practice. Carr was well known to Detective King and other detectives in OMI as they had arrested him on multiple occasions.

The Detectives of OMI, alerted to Carr’s activities, spread out in search for him. At 4:11 p.m., Detective King and his partner, Detective Cherise Morgan, stopped a suspect on the 100 block of East 51st Street. While they were interviewing the suspect, Detective King observed Carr standing nearby. When Detective King attempted to stop Carr he fled on foot. Detective King apprehended Carr after a short chase in front of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge at 5047 South Michigan Avenue. Detective King ordered Carr to place his hands on the brick building and when he moved in to cuff him a struggle ensued, during which Carr gained possession of the detective’s gun from his shoulder holster and fired. Detective king was shot at point blank range and was struck once in the chest and once in the heart. Carr then fled again on foot and was later apprehended from a flash message sent by Detective Kings partner. 2nd District Tactical Officers apprehended Carr at 50th Street and Prairie Avenue. Detective King was transported to Billings Hospital where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Drikernat 4:48 p.m. on July 12, 1985.

Roosevelt Carr was charged with murder and later convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Detective King was waked at A. A. Rayner Funeral Home located at 318 East 71st Street. His funeral mass was held at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church located at 2020 East 79th Street. He was laid to rest on July 16, 1985 in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, 3801 West 87th Street, Evergreen Park, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 10, Lot 15, Block 19, Section X.

Detective Wayne George King, born June 8, 1932, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on November 26, 1962. He was previously assigned to the Narcotics Section and the Area 4 Task Force.

Detective King served in the U.S. Army from January 27, 1951 thru December 15, 1951, was a veteran of the Korean War and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Private. He was survived by his wife, Willie Marie (nee Chambers), age 52 and children: Jennifer Marie, age 16 and Lori T. He was preceded in death by his parents: Edith (nee Dowdy) and Harold Luther and siblings, Elias J., age 4 and Katherine Jean, age 0 months.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #G266036.

On September 16, 1985, Officer King’s star was retired by Superintendent Fred Rice and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 1121 South State Street. In 2000, Chicago Police Headquarters moved to a new facility at 3510 South Michigan Avenue, Officer King’s Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.