Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 1 year, 11 months, 16 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 26th District - Monroe
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile (Pursuit)
Age at Time of Death: 36
Timeline
Date of Birth: 27 Dec 1916
Date of Appointment: 30 Jul 1951
Date of Incident: 15 Jun 1953
End of Watch: 15 Jun 1953
Date of Interment: 18 Jun 1953
Interment Details
Cemetery: St. Joseph Cemetery - River Grove, Illinois
Grave Location: Lot Sub 1-5, Block 6, Section N
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-3
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 12
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 5, Line 19
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 24-W: 28
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: U.S. Army
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Anthony Cannata, Star #2216, aged 36 years, was a 1 year, 11 month, 16 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 26th District – Monroe.
On June 15, 1953, Officer Cannata and his partner, Patrolman Red Irving Posner, were working the 1st watch in car No. 340. The officers were assigned to a special hoodlum harrasment detail. The detail was formed the week previous after 10 rounds were fired into the Racine Avenue police station by a speeding auto. While on patrol the officers observed a parked auto without a license plate as they approached Chicago Avenue and Noble Street. The car matched a description of one used the previous Thursday in the kidnapping of State Representative Clem Graver. As the officers approached, the men in the car fled, speeding away. The officers pursued in their squad car and as the pursuit neared Milwaukee Avenue, near Walton Street, another vehicle in traffic cut them off. The officers had to swerve to avoid hitting the vehicle, their squad car then struck a light pole in front of 958 North Milwaukee Avenue. The men in the fleeing vehicle made good their escape and were never apprehended. Officer Cannata suffered fatal injuries upon impact and died at the scene, he was transported to St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arival. Officer Posner was transported to Henrotin Hospital in critical condition and later made a full recovery. The bandits made good their escape following the crash and were never apprehended.
Officer Cannata was waked at Lucania Funeral Home located at 6901 West Belmont Avenue. His funeral mass was held at St. Philip Benizi Church located at 515 West Oak Street. He was laid to rest on June 18, 1953 in St. Joseph Cemetery, 3100 North Thatcher Avenue, River Grove, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot Sub 1-5, Block 6, Section N.
Patrolman Anthony Cannata, born December 27, 1916, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on July 30, 1951.
Officer Cannata served in the U.S. Army, was a veteran of World War II and was Honorably Discharged. He was survived by his wife, Eleanor (nee DeJohn); children: Anthony R., Camelle, Rosetta, Samuel Anthony, and mother, Carmelia (nee Caccona). He was preceded in death by his father, Samuel.
On January 11, 2006, Officer Cannata’s star was retired by Superintendent Philip J. Cline and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby of the Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.