Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 12 years, 0 months, 20 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 1st District - Central Detail
District of Incident (Present Day): 001 - Central
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 39
Timeline
Date of Birth: 02 Nov 1893
Date of Appointment: 10 Jul 1922
Date of Incident: 27 Jul 1934
End of Watch: 30 Jul 1934
Date of Interment: 02 Aug 1934
Interment Details
Cemetery: St. Casimir Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Grave 1W, Lot 109, Block 20, Section --
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-5
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 9
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 37
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 13-W: 8
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: YES, Branch Unknown
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Anton T. Zapolsky, Star #5369, aged 39 years, was a 12 year, 0 month, 20 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, unit of assigned to the 1st District – Central Detail.
On July 27, 1934, Officer Zapolsky and his partner, Patrolman Leonard McPhail were on patrol in the Loop when they heard gunshots. The officers were unaware that the gunshots they heard were intended for two other police officers who were chasing an auto thief. When Officers Zapolsky and McPhail arrived to the scene at Wacker Drive and Clark Street, the car thief, Charles Lewis, alias Miller, of 2434 West Moffit Street, opened fire again. Lewis shot Officer Zapolsky in the abdomen. Officer John Fogarty of the Detective Bureau, who had also responded to the scene, shot and killed Lewis at 206 West Randolph Street. Officer Zapolsky was transported to Henrotin Hospital where he was pronounced dead three days later on July 30, 1934. A civilian was also injured during the incident.
Charles Lewis body was taken to the Cook County Morgue, where it was identified by Casimir Maciong, age 58 of 311 North Drake Avenue. Mr. Maciong told investigators that Lewis had killed his son, Zygmund Maciong, six weeks earlier. He claimed Lewis was hired by a bootlegger to kill his son.
Officer Zapolsky’s funeral mass was held at Holy Cross Church located at 4541 South Wood Street. He was laid to rest on August 2, 1934 in St. Casimir Cemetery, 4401 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 1W, Lot 109, Block 20, Section –.
Patrolman Anton T. Zapolsky, born November 2, 1893, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on July 10, 1922.
Officer Zapolsky served in the Armed Forces. He was survived by his wife, Minnie; children: Dorothy and Thomas and brother, William.