Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Lincoln Park Police Department
Served: Length of Service Unknown
Unit of Assignment / Detail: Motorcycle Division
District of Incident (Present Day): 019 - Town Hall
Cause of Death: Crash - Motorcycle
Age at Time of Death: 34
Timeline
Date of Birth: 28 Mar 1888
Date of Appointment:
Date of Incident: 26 Jun 1922
End of Watch: 26 Jun 1922
Date of Interment: 29 Jul 1922
Interment Details
Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
Grave Location: Lot 9, Block 40, Section S
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-7
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 13
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 7
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 60-E: 12
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: U.S. Army
Incident & Biographic Details
Park Policeman Robert Patrick Gibbons, Star #138, aged 34 years, was a veteran of the Lincoln Park Police Department, assigned to the Motorcycle Division.
On July 26, 1922, Officer Gibbons was on patrol riding his police motorcycle near Fullerton Avenue and Lake Shore Drive in Lincoln Park. Officer Gibbons was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the motorcycle and crashed. Thrown from the motorcycle, he now lay on the street when, a yellow taxicab was unable to stop in time and ran over Officer Gibbons body. Officer Gibbons was transported to Columbus Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Witnesses on scene stated that the crash happened so fast that they could not give an accurate account of the events.
Officer Gibbons was waked at his residence located at 6235 North Glenwood Avenue. His funeral mass was held at St. Gertrude Church located at 1420 West Granville Avenue. He was laid to rest on July 29, 1922 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located 3rd from the South Line in Lot 9, Block 40, Section S.
Park Policeman Robert P. Gibbons was born on March 28, 1888.
Officer Gibbons served in the U.S. Army from September 19, 1917 thru June 7, 1919 in the Demobilization Group 33rd Infantry Division, was a veteran of World War I and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Sergeant 1st Class. He was also a member of the Prairie Signals Post No. 377 American Legion, Brownson Council No. 1030 Knights of Columbus and the Railway Mall Association. Officer Gibbons was survived by his parents: John J. and Marie (nee Holmes) and siblings: James F, May C. and Mrs. Thomas Farrell.
Chicago Police Department homicide file not found for this incident.
The Lincoln Park Police Department, in the City of Chicago, was disbanded on April 30, 1934. On May 1, 1934, the remaining officers were transferred to the Chicago Park District Police Department, which was organized on the same date. Three park district police departments, Lincoln, West, and South were consolidated into the Chicago Park District Police Department. Fallen officers of the Lincoln Park Police Department are currently honored on the memorial wall of the Chicago Police Department as Chicago Police Officers. Their stars are displayed in the Honored Star Case located in the lobby of the Chicago Police Department at 3510 South Michigan Avenue.