Patrolman Larry James Vincent | Star #15161

Patrolman Larry James Vincent, Star #15161, aged 29 years, was a 2 year, 11 month, 14 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 2nd District – Wentworth Tactical Unit.

On January 14, 1983, at 7:03 p.m., Officer Vincent and his partner, Patrolman George Lipinski, were working the third watch on beat 262C. They responded to a burglary in progress call at a three story apartment building located at 5131 South Calumet Avenue. Upon arrival Officer Vincent entered the building from the front while his partner went to the back. Beat 262D, Patrolman Clarence Spraggins and Patrolman Jackie Stewart arrived a few minutes later. Officer Spraggins went to the front to back up Officer Vincent and Officer Stewart to the rear with Officer Lipinski. Officers Vincent and Spraggins then made entry and confronted two suspects, Nicky Cozart, age 28, of 4242 South Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Darnell Davis, age 24, of 4048 South Lake Park Avenue. The confrontation took place in a first floor hall area as the offenders were attempting to escape through a first floor window. As the men leapt from the window Officers Vincent and Spraggins fired at them. Cozart was grazed in the abdomen. It was dark and the windows were covered with an opaque substance. The officers in the rear, hearing the gunfire, ran to the front and one of them thinking they were being shot at by a third offender returned fire into the open window. Tragically he was shooting at Officers Vincent and Spraggins. Both were struck, Vincent in the right side of his face and Spraggins in the arm. Officers Vincent and Spraggins stumbled out the front door and collapsed in the snow. Additional backup officers arrived and assisted the wounded officers. Cozart and Davis were captured outside the building and placed into custody. Officer Spraggins was transported to Provident Hospital by beat 271 where he was admitted and eventually made a full recovery. Officer Vincent was transported to Billings Hospital by CFD Ambulance #36 and was pronounced dead by Dr. Cardey at 8:06 p.m. on January 14, 1983.

Nicky Cozart and Darnell Davis were charged with felony murder, home invasion and robbery. They were held without bail pending their trial.

Officer Vincent was waked at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home located at 4727 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois. His funeral mass was held at St. Thomas More Church located at 2825 West 81st Street. He was laid to rest on January 18, 1983 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 West 111th Street, Alsip, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 3, Lot 79, Block 23, Section 41.

Patrolman Larry James Vincent, December 11, 1953, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on January 28, 1980 and was in Recruit Class 80-1 at the Jackson Street Police Academy.

Officer Vincent was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was survived by his expectant wife, Marilyn Grace (nee Purciarello), age 25; children: Anthony Michael, age 2 (CPD) and Jason Paul, age 9; parents: Agnes (nee Rourke) and Donald (CPD); sisters: Deloris and Mary and uncle, Cornelius Rourke (CPD). On June 9, 1983, his wife gave birth to a baby boy, Donald Larry Vincent.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #E017596.