Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 6 years, 1 month, 24 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 2nd Precinct - Madison Street Station
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Friendly (Accidental)
Age at Time of Death: 37
Timeline
Date of Birth: 23 Sep 1840
Date of Appointment: 11 Oct 1871
Date of Incident: 05 Dec 1877
End of Watch: 05 Dec 1877
Date of Interment:
Interment Details
Cemetery: Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Lodi, Wisconsin
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case:
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 20
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall:
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: Confederate States of America Army
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Gilbert Elliot Reynolds, Star # Unknown, aged 37 years, was a 6 year, 1 month, 24 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 2nd Precinct – Madison Street Station.
On December 5, 1877, at 6:50 a.m., Officer Reynolds and Patrolman Thomas Brennock were tending to their uniforms prior to the beginning of their shift. The officers were in a room at the rear of the West Madison Street Station. Officer Reynolds was brushing his boots while Officer Brennock brushed his pants. As Officer Brennock put his foot on the bench beside Officer Reynolds, his service revolver fell from his overcoat pocket and struck the floor. Upon striking the floor the pistol discharged and the round struck Patrolman Reynolds in the abdomen, penetrating the base of his left lung. Officer Reynolds fell backwards and exclaimed that he was shot. The City Physician, Doctor Dunne, was immediately summoned to the police station and attended to Officer Reynolds. However, little could be done for him and he died four hours later at 10:30 a.m. He was conscious to the very end all the while repeatedly and emphatically exonerating Officer Brennock from all blame.
Officer Reynolds was waked at his residence located at No. 294 West Van Buren Street (present day 1025 West Van Buren Street). He was laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, City of Lodi, Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Patrolman Gilbert Elliot Reynolds, born September 23, 1840, received his Probationary appointment to the Chicago Police Department on October 15, 1871.
Officer Reynolds served in the Confederate States of America Army in the 23rd West Virginia Infantry Battalion, was a veteran of the Civil War (aka War of Rebellion) and was Honorably Discharged. He was survived by his wife; daughter, age 12; parents: Hannah C. (nee Elliot) and Sylvester and siblings: Albert N. and Ida S.
Chicago Police Department homicide file not found for this incident.