Patrolman Dorelle Corinne Brandon, Star #2684, aged 35 years, was a 5 year, 10 month, 29 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 3rd District – Grand Crossing Tactical Unit.

On January 25, 1984, at 1:13 a.m., Officer Brandon was undercover and working with her partner Patrolman Clarence Keith. The officers were engaged in a “controlled buy“ of cocaine after receiving information from an informant. The informant had called ahead to Anthony Brown and arranged to buy a quantity of cocaine for him self and “girlfriend,” Officer Brandon. Officers Brandon, Keith, the informant and two other plainclothes officers proceeded to Brown’s home located at 10742 South Calumet Avenue.

Upon arrival, Officer Brandon and the informant walked up to the front door of the building. Officer Keith concealed himself in a hallway. Officer Brandon and the informant were then told to come in through the rear entrance of the apartment. Hearing this, Officer Brandon told Officer Keith to follow them a half minute later. Once at the rear door they entered the apartment and Brown pulled a set of burglar bars across the rear entrance to the apartment and locked them. Officer Brandon then observed Brown sell one gram of cocaine for $100.00 and immediately announced her office. She drew her .38 caliber snub nose service revolver and attempted to place Brown into custody. Brown resisted and a struggle for her gun ensued. During the struggle Officer Keith, unable to make entry, attempted to shoot Brown through the steel bars. Tragically, one of his shots accidentally hit Officer Brandon in the back of her head. Brown was also shot in the abdomen and legs. Officer Brandon was transported to Roseland Community Hospital by beat 571 where she was treated by Dr. V. Sachdev. She would later be transfered to Cook County Hospital where she was pronouncd dead by Dr. Greenwald at 4:10 a.m. on January 25, 1984.

Anthony Brown was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and possession of a controlled substance. Brown was convicted on the drug charges during his first trial. During the same trial, a mistrial was declared on the murder and attempted murder counts. The jury could not come to an agreement regarding the murder charges. As a result, Brown was exonerated of the murder charges.

Officer Brandon was waked at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home located at 10456 South Western Avenue, her funeral mass was held at St. Joachim’s Catholic Church located at 700 East 91st Street and she was laid to rest on January 28, 1984 in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, 3801 West 87th Street, Evergreen Park, Illinois. Her grave is located in Grave SE, Lot 614, Block –, Section –.

Patrolman Dorelle Corinne Brandon (nee Cannon Banks), born December 27, 1948, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on February 27, 1978. She earned 3 Department Commendations, 1 Unit Meritorious Performance Award, 20 Honorable Mentions and 2 Complimentary Letters during her career.

Officer Brandon was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. She was survived by her husband, Matthew, Jr. (CPD), age 32; daughter, Barbara Sharee Cannon, age 6; step-sons: Marvin Edward Barndon. age 11 and Sean Scot Brandon, age 15; parents: Charles (CPD) and Dolores (nee White); step-father, Norman White; three brothers; and five sisters.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #F029282 and E311724.

On June 14, 1984, Officer Brandon’s star was retired by Superintendent Fred Rice 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 Brandon’s Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.