John Paul Jasper Jr. | Star #6894

Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 10 years*

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 8th District - Chicago Lawn

District of Incident (Present Day): 008 - Chicago Lawn

Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile (Pursuit)

Age at Time of Death: 38

Timeline


Date of Birth: 12 May 1926

Date of Appointment: 07 May 1905

Date of Incident: 11 Sep 1964

End of Watch: 11 Sep 1964

Date of Interment: 14 Sep 1964

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: St. Casimir Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
 Grave Location: Grave 2N, Lot 289 291 293, Block 18A, Section --
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-4

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 3

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 4, Line 51

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 1-E: 18

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: U.S. Navy

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman John Paul Jasper, Jr., Star #6894, aged 38 years, was a 10 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 8th District – Chicago Lawn.

On September 11, 1964, at 1:00 a.m., Officer Jasper was working the first watch. While on routine patrol and driving his marked squad car he became engaged in a pursuit of a speeding vehicle traveling Southbound on Pulaski Road. The officer was driving through intersection of 83rd Street and Pulaski Road when he was broadsided by a vehicle headed Westbound on 83rd Street. Officer Jasper’s squad car veered off the road and struck a utility pole. Following the crash a stream of gasoline trickled under the car and caught fire. The resulting fire engulfed the squad car and trapped Officer Jasper inside. Two teenagers, John Gardner, age 18 and Tom Trahey, age 19, without hesitation attempted to pull the officer from the squad car. The boys did not give up on their attempt to pull the officer from the vehicle until onlookers forced them away from the squad car. The driver of the striking vehicle was Thomas Flickinger, age 50, of 720 North Stones Street, LaGrange Park, Illinois, he was uninjured in the crash. Officer Jasper sustained 3rd degree burns to his entire body. He was transported to Christ Community Hospital in Oak Lawn by Squadrol where he was pronounced dead on arrival on September 11, 1964. For their heroic efforts, John Gardner and Tom Trahey were given The Award of Heroism Medal by the Chicago Stock Yards’ American Legion Post.

Officer Jasper was waked at the John F. Eudeikis Funeral Home located at 4330 South California Avenue. His funeral mass was held at St. Christina Catholic Church located at 3342 West 111th Street. He was laid to rest on September 14, 1964 in St. Casimir Cemetery, 4401 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 2N, Lot 289 291 293, Block 18A, Section –.

Patrolman John Paul Jasper, Sr., born May 12, 1926, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department in 1954.

Officer Jasper served in the U.S. Navy, was a veteran of World War II and was Honorably Discharged. He was also a member of the St. Jude Police League and Blue Island Patrick T. Hallinan Post No. 3580 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Officer Jasper was survived by his wife, Barbara (nee Barth), age 32; children: Cathryn, age 3, Janet, age 7, John Paul, III, age 5 and Laura Lynn, age 6 months; parents: Anna (nee Navicki) and John Paul, Sr. and siblings: Ann (Adolph) Gudziungs, Julia (James) Neurouter and Stanley (CPD).

On May 25, 2006, Officer Jasper’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.