Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 17 years, 10 months, 18 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 7th District - Woodlawn
District of Incident (Present Day): 003 - Grand Crossing
Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile
Age at Time of Death: 48
Timeline
Date of Birth: 04 Jan 1905
Date of Appointment: 16 Aug 1935
Date of Incident: 30 Nov 1952
End of Watch: 03 Jul 1953
Date of Interment: 06 Jul 1953
Interment Details
Cemetery: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - Alsip, Illinois
Grave Location: Grave 7, Lot 2, Block 2, Section 8
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case:
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 12
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall:
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Dennis F. Collins, Sr., Star #6874, aged 48 years, was a 17 year, 10 month, 18 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 7th District – Woodlawn.
On November 30, 1952, Officer Collins and his partner were responding to call at a local hotel when they were involved in a traffic crash at the intersection of 64th Street and Kenwood Avenue. The patrol car he was riding in collided with another vehicle and overturned. Patrolman Collins suffered severe injuries as a result of the crash. He developed a blood clot from the crash which led to a subsequent heart attack. Officer Collins died from that heart attack, seven months later on July 3, 1953, which was tied to the injuries he sustained in the crash.
Officer Collin was waked at D. F. Curley & Sons Funeral Home located at 1018 West 79th Street. His funeral mass was held at St. Sabina Church located at 1210 West 78th Place. He was laid to rest on July 6, 1953 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 West 111th Street, Alsip, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 7, Lot 2, Block 2, Section 8.
Patrolman Dennis F. Collins, Sr., born January 4, 1905, received his Probationary Appointment on August 16, 1935. He earned 1 Credible Mention and 1 Extra Compensation for Meritorious Conduct totaling $180.00 during his career.
Patrolman Collins was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association and St. Jude Police League. He was survived by his wife, Eleanor (nee Ivers); children: Dennis F., Jr., Donald and Jack and siblings: Daniel T. and Marie A. Jensen. He was preceded in death by his parents: Dennis and Nora (nee Scannell) and siblings: Catherine, Cornelius, Jerome, John and Timothy. One of his sons and a granddaughter both served on the Chicago Police Department.