Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: South Park Police Department
Served: Length of Service Unknown
Unit of Assignment / Detail: Motorcycle Division
District of Incident (Present Day): 001 - Central
Cause of Death: Crash - Motorcycle
Age at Time of Death: 27
Timeline
Date of Birth: 27 Jul 1903
Date of Appointment:
Date of Incident: 21 Jun 1931
End of Watch: 22 Jun 1931
Date of Interment: 25 Jun 1931
Interment Details
Cemetery: Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-2 / C-3
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 10
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 31
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 35-E: 5
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Park Policeman Thomas J. Johnson, Jr., Star #387, aged 27 years, was a veteran of the South Park Police Department, assigned to the Motorcycle Division.
On June 21, 1931, Officer Johnson was patrolling Outer Lake Shore Drive on his police motorcycle. The officer was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by William Devine of 8126 South Luella Avenue near 23rd Street and Outer Lake Shore Drive. He was transported to Michael Reese Hospital where he died the next day on June 22, 1931.
William Devine was arrested and arraigned before the Municipal Court of Chicago, Judge Francis Borelli, on charges of reckless driving.
Officer Johnson was waked at his parent’s residence located at 6600 South May Street. His funeral mass was held at St. Brendan Catholic Church located at 6714 South Racine Avenue. He was laid to rest on June 25, 1931 in Mount Olivet Cemetery, 2755 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Park Policeman Thomas J. Johnson, Jr., was born on July 27, 1903.
Officer Johnson was a member of the South Park Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association. He was survived by his wife, Jean (nee Little), age 38; parents: Genevieve (nee Hunter) and Thomas J., Sr. and sister: Mae Antonsen.
The South 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 South 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.