Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 5 years, 2 months, 24 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 4, 10th Precinct - Hyde Park
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 41
Timeline
Date of Birth: 08 Mar 1870
Date of Appointment: 09 Apr 1906
Date of Incident: 02 Jul 1911
End of Watch: 02 Jul 1911
Date of Interment: 05 Jul 1911
Interment Details
Cemetery: Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-2
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 10
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 1, Line 40
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 40-E: 12
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Patrick Fogarty, Star #1352, aged 41 years, was a 5 year, 2 month, 24 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 4, 10th Precinct – Hyde Park.
On July 1, 1911, Officer Fogarty was off duty and out with his nephew, Michael Hannon. The two had spent the night taking in a picture show and then visiting several saloons with a small group of friends. At the end of the night, Officer Fogarty returned to his nephew’s boarding house to see him home safely. On July 2, 1911, at 2:15 a.m., Officer Fogarty was leaving his nephew’s residence and was just outside the front door when three men approached him. While in front of 743 West Pearce Street (present day Tilden Street) he was attacked by John Gay. During the struggle, Gay gained control of the officer’s weapon when the gun discharged. The three bandits then fled. Fogarty’s nephew heard the gunfire and ran outside to find Officer Fogarty lying on the sidewalk just 25 feet from his front door. Officer Fogarty was struck in the groin and was rushed to Grace Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at 3:00 p.m. the same day.
In the aftermath, an investigation was conducted and a great deal of the details of the incident remained shrouded in mystery. Many witnesses gave statements, but were very inebriated. It was believed through the investigation that the shooting was an act of revenge by a man Officer Fogarty had arrested. One witness, Bernard Friedman of 731 West Pearce Street gave a statement. Although inebriated, he related to investigators that he “heard one of Fogarty’s assailants say ‘You are the fellow who tried to arrest us.’ Two men rushed upon the policeman. The first man struck him on the jaw, knocking him against the railing guarding the stairway. Then the other fellow struck Fogarty and knocked him to the walk. Fogarty tried to reach for his pistol, but the first thug was too quick for the officer and shot him. Then they ran. It was over in a minute. I believe I will be able to identify the men.“
On July 14, 1911, John Gay was arrested on suspicion of the crime and confessed during questioning the same day. On January 13, 1912, he was found guilty and sentenced to the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet.
Officer Fogarty was waked at his residence located at 5247 South May Street. He was laid to rest on July 5, 1911 in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 2755 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Patrolman Patrick Fogarty, born on March 18, 1870, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on April 9, 1906.
Officer Fogarty was survived by his wife, Hannah.
Chicago Police Department homicide file not found for this incident.