Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 6 years, 10 months, 3 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 33rd District - Irving Park
District of Incident (Present Day): 025 - Grand Central
Cause of Death: Crash - Motorcycle (Pursuit)
Age at Time of Death: 32
Timeline
Date of Birth: 02 May 1897
Date of Appointment: 28 Oct 1922
Date of Incident: 31 Aug 1929
End of Watch: 31 Aug 1929
Date of Interment: 04 Sep 1929
Interment Details
Cemetery: St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetery - Niles, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case:
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 5
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall:
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: U.S. Army
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Frank Aloysius Sedlack, Star #1304, aged 32 years, was a 6 year, 10 month, 3 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 33rd District – Irving Park.
On August 31, 1929, Officer Sedlack, while on motorcycle duty, was pursuing a speeder west on Grand Avenue and collided with another automobile at Sayre Avenue. He sustained a fractured skull and internal injuries in the crash. Officer Sedlack was taken to Keystone Hospital where he died later the same day.
The driver of the vehicle Officer Sedlack struck, Roy Larson, age 20, was released after being questioned. The driver of the speeding vehicle escaped.
Officer Sedlack was waked at his residence located at 3639 West Wolfram Street. His funeral mass was held at Basilica of St. Hyacinth located at 3636 West Wolfram Street. He was laid to rest on September 4, 1929 in St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetery, 6800 North Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, Illinois.
Patrolman Frank Aloysius Sedlack, born May 2, 1897, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on October 28, 1922. He earned 1 Credible Mention and 1 Extra Compensation for Meritorious Conduct totaling $120.00 during his career.
Officer Sedlack served in the U.S. Army from Aprl 28th, 1917 thru August 14th, 1919 in Headquarters Troop, 2nd Division, was a veteran of World War I and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Private 1st Class. He was also a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association and Apollo Tent No. 63 Maccabees. Officer Sedlack was survived by his wife, Victoria H. (nee Suwalski, age 30; daughter, Elaine, age 4; father, Matthew C. and siblings: Emily, John and Rose Martnek.
Chicago Police Department homicide file not found for this incident.