John Patrick Kearney Sr. | Star #Unknown

Death Classification: Performance of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 26 years, 1 month, 19 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 1, 1st Precinct - Central Detail

District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West

Cause of Death: Fall - Thrown from Horse

Age at Time of Death: 50

Timeline


Date of Birth: Jan 1859

Date of Appointment: 13 May 1883

Date of Incident: 01 Jul 1909

End of Watch: 02 Jul 1909

Date of Interment: 05 Jul 1909

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # 23

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 23

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 4, Line 44

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 13-W: 22

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman John Patrick Kearney, Sr., Star # Unknown, aged 50 years, was a 26 year, 1 month, 19 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 1, 1st Precinct – Central Detail.

On July 1, 1909, Officer Kearney was assigned to protect a wagon driver from striking union workers. While mounted on his horse, it suddenly bolted as an automobile passed. He was thrown from his mount and struck the ground, sustaining a fractured spine in the fall. Officer Kearney died the next day from his injuries on July 2, 1909.

Officer Kearney was waked at his residence located at 3533 South Hamilton Avenue. His funeral mass was held at St. Agnes of Bohemia Church located at 2651 South Central Park Avenue. He was laid to rest on July 5, 1909 in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 2755 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman John Patrick Kearney, Sr., born in January 1859, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on May 13, 1883.

Officer Kearney was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association and Archbishop McHale Council No. 1194 Knights of Columbus. He was survived by his wife, Rose (nee Murtha), age 39 and children: John Patrick, Jr., age 1, Mary, age 22, Patrick, age 25, Peter James, age 15, Phillip, age 12 and Rose, age 24.

Chicago Police Department homicide file not found for this incident.