Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 1 year, 3 months, 2 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 22nd District - Maxwell
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Struck - By Vehicle
Age at Time of Death: 32
Timeline
Date of Birth: 22 Oct 1896
Date of Appointment: 30 Sep 1927
Date of Incident: 01 Jan 1929
End of Watch: 01 Jan 1929
Date of Interment: 04 Jan 1929
Interment Details
Cemetery: Mount Carmel Cemetery - Hillside, Illinois
Grave Location: Grave 3, Lot 18, Block 15, Section 26
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-12
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 23
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall:
Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman John Edward Sacht, Sr., Star #3229, aged 32 years, was a 1 year, 3 month, 2 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 22nd District – Maxwell.
On January 1, 1929, 1:35 a.m., Officer Sacht and his partner, Patrolman John Barry, were investigating an abandoned and stolen vehicle in the middle of the street at 803 South Morgan Street. As the officers stood by their car, a speeding Pierce Arrow limousine drove by and hit them both. Officer Barry was thrown aside and suffered minor injuries. The limousine for nearly a block dragged Officer Sacht before he rolled under the wheels and was crushed. The officer was transported to Cook County Hospital where he was pronounced dead shorthly after arrival on January 1, 1929.
The police recovered the limousine 45 minutes later at Racine Avenue and Tilden Street. It was determined to be the vehicle of a prominent Chicago Architect, Wilbert B. Ashby. Ashby’s chauffer, James Norton, reported the limousine stolen at the Des Plaines Street Station moments before it was recovered. The limousine had a smashed left fender and broken headlight. Ashby and his wife were held for questioning but denied any involvement or knowledge of the murder. They were eventually released with no charges being filed. There were two other deaths prior to Officer Sacht’s that were suspected to have been caused by the same person driving the same limousine which was recovered.
On January 9, 1929, the Coroner recommended the arrest of the unknown driver on the charge of manslaughter.
Officer Sacht was laid to rest on January 4, 1929 in Mount Carmel Cemetery, 1400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 3, Lot 18, Block 15, Section 26.
Patrolman John Edward Sacht, Sr., born October 22, 1896, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on September 30, 1927.
Officer Sacht was survived by his wife, Mary (nee Cronnolly), age 31; son, John Edward, Jr., age 2 and siblings: Christie Burns, Frieda Mills, Henry, Mrs. A. Le Qucane and Mrs. M. Gebrke.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #11020.
On June 27, 2007, Officer Sacht’s star was retired by Superintendent Philip J. Cline and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.