Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 11 year, 7 months, 0 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 15, 29th Precinct - Warren
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Accidental
Age at Time of Death: 38
Timeline
Date of Birth: 04 Feb 1905
Date of Appointment: 11 Sep 1888
Date of Incident: 11 Apr 1900
End of Watch: 11 Apr 1900
Date of Interment: 14 Apr 1900
Interment Details
Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
Grave Location: Lot N13, Block 18, Section Y
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # A-4
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 1
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 1, Line 29
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 20-E: 11
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman John F. McDermott, Star #1885, aged 38 years, was an 11 year, 7 month, 0 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 15, 29th Precinct – Warren.
On April 11, 1900, Officer McDermott was found by his sister, Mary behind his residence located at 3451 West 15th Street with a gunshot wound to his head. Mary McDermott summoned help and Officer McDermott was transported to Cook County Hospital where he regained consciousness for a short period of time. When questioned as to what had occurred, he could not explain his injury. He died from his injuries later the same day.
Investigating officers believed that Officer McDermott had fallen down the back stairwell of his residence, his revolver accidentally discharging and striking him in the head. His revolver was recovered lying on the ground a few feet from him.
Officer McDermott was laid to rest on April 14, 1900 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot N13, Block 18, Section Y.
Patrolman John F. McDermott, born in 1862, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on September 11, 1888.
Officer McDermott was survived by his siblings: Mary and William.
Chicago Police Department homicide file not found for this incident.
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In February 1958, Officer McDermott’s star was retired by Commissioner Timothy J. O’Connor 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 McDermott’s Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.