Patrolman Bruce Norman Garrison | Star #14775

Patrolman Bruce Norman Garrison, Star #14775, aged 28 years, was a 3 year, 8 month, 12 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Operational Services – Patrol Division: Unit 056 – Area 6 Special Operations Group.

On February 27, 1974, at 8:15 p.m., Patrolmen Bruce Norman Garrison and William Charles Marsek were working the third watch on beat 6653. They were participating in a manhunt for Jacob Paul Cohen, alias Paul Robson, age 30, of 5317 North Wayne, who was wanted for an earlier escape after he was arrested for murder. They observed Cohen emerge from Raven’s Pub located at 1818 West Foster Avenue. Cohen walked to his car and then after seeing the officers reentered the tavern. As Officers Garrison and Marsek investigated, they noticed a sawed-off shotgun near the man’s car. When the officers entered the tavern looking for Cohen they could not see him because of the poor lighting. As the officers moved further inside, the located Cohen and a struggle ensued. Shots were fired by Cohen. A 10-1 was called and units responded from the 20th District. Officers Garrison and Marsek were both shot in the head and Officer Marsek was also shot in the shoulder and abdomen. Cohen fled out the front door of the tavern and a manhunt ensued. Information was received that Cohen fled in a “beat up“ 1964 Rambler, but it was not certain whether he fled in a car or on foot. Police were seen searching the bushes with flashlights in the 5100 block of North Leavitt Avenue and in Winnemac Park. The gunman made good his escape. Officer Garrison’s .38 caliber revolver was missing and it was believed that Cohen had gained control of the revolver during the struggle and shot both officers with it. Officers Garrison was transported to Ravenswood Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. on February 27, 1974. Officer Marsek was transported to Edgewater Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. on February 27, 1974.

Jacob Cohen fled to Wisconsin and had told a close female friend his new address and alias he was using to hide out. That friend quickly passed the information on to another male friend and unwittingly betrayed Cohen’s trust. Unbeknownst to the female, the male friend was a close friend with Sergeant Thomas Kelly of the Robbery Unit. Sergeant Kelly then relayed the information to Sergeant Rocco Rinaldi of the Homicide Unit. On March 4, 1974, Sergeant Rinaldi alerted the FBI in Milwaukee. Surveillance was set up on Cohen while the two sergeants sped up to Milwaukee to make the arrest. However, Cohen detected the FBI surveillance and shot his way out of the building wounding Agent Richard Carr. Cohen took refuge in a nearby house and took four children hostage and used one as a shield from bullets while demanding a getaway car. When the child broke free Milwaukee Police and Federal Agents opened fire and Cohen was killed in a hail of gunfire. Cohen sustained 16 gunshot wounds.

Officer Garrison was waked at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home located at 6150 North Cicero Avenue and he was cremated and laid to rest on March 2, 1974 in Oakridge Cemetery, 4301 West Roosevelt Road, Hillside, Illinois.

Patrolman Bruce Norman Garrison, born November 11, 1945, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on June 15, 1970. He earned 6 Commendations during his career.

Officer Garrison was a member of the Confederation of Police. He was survived by his ex-wife, Diane Dolores (nee Carr), age 26, children: Brett Allen, age 7 and Michael James, age 4; and mother, Edna L. (nee LeJeune) and sister, Nancy Zemror. He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur V.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #P083417.

On May 21, 1998, Officer Garrison’s star was retired by Superintendent Terry G. Hillard 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 Garrison’s Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.