Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 10 years, 9 months, 22 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 23, 29th Precinct - Sheffield
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 38
Timeline
Date of Birth: 17 Feb 1879
Date of Appointment: 02 Nov 1906
Date of Incident: 23 Aug 1917
End of Watch: 24 Aug 1917
Date of Interment: 27 Aug 1917
Interment Details
Cemetery: Mount Carmel Cemetery - Hillside, Illinois
Grave Location: Grave 2, Lot N27 Block 8, Section V
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-4
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 24
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 1, Line 51
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 27-E: 16
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Joseph P. Tiernan, Star #3014, aged 38 years, was a 10 year, 9 month, 22 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 23, 29th Precinct – Sheffield.
On August 23, 1917, at 11:43 p.m., Officer Tiernan, while walking his beat, observed suspicious activity behind a the West End Dry Goods Store located at 1775 West Madison Street. As Officer Tiernan investigated, he noticed two burglars, Harry Lindrum and Harry Sutherland, in the act of breaking into the basement of the store. As Officer Tiernan placed them under arrest, one of the offenders drew a revolver and began firing. Officer Tiernan was shot three times during the altercation. Officer Tiernan was transported to Presley Hospital where he was pronounced dead on August 24, 1917.
On August 27, 1917, Lindrum was held by the Coroner and also implicated Harry Sutherland in a confession. Sutherland was also arrested and held on a
$20,000.00 bond issued by Judge Fisher. The September 1917 Grand Jury returned True Bills on both men. Sutherland was sent to trial and on November 3, 1917 was sentenced to 25 years in Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet. Lindrum was also sent to trial and was sentenced to hang on December 14, 1917 by Judge Scanlon. Governor Lowden granted a reprieve until February 15, 1918. On February 15, 1918, at 9:36 a.m., Lindrum was hanged at the Cook County Jail.
Officer Tiernan was waked at his residence located at 5585 West Monroe Street. His funeral mass was held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church located at 38 North Austin Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois. He was laid to rest on August 27, 1917 in Mount Carmel Cemetery, 1400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 2, Lot N27 Block 8, Section V.
Patrolman Joseph P. Tiernan, born February 17, 1879, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on November 2, 1906.
Officer Tiernan was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association. He was survived by his wife, Margaret and siblings: Bernard, John, Michael, Mrs. T. Brady and Thomas (CPD).
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #5318.