Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 1 year, 3 months, 0 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 28th District - Austin
District of Incident (Present Day): 015 - Austin
Cause of Death: Crash - Motorcycle
Age at Time of Death: 31
Timeline
Date of Birth: 23 Jul 1896
Date of Appointment: 19 Nov 1926
Date of Incident: 25 Jan 1928
End of Watch: 19 Feb 1928
Date of Interment: 21 Feb 1928
Interment Details
Cemetery: Mount Olive Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case:
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 17
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall:
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Peter Peterson, Star #563, aged 31 years, was a 1 year, 3 month, 0 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 28th District – Austin.
On January 25, 1928, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Officer Peterson was riding his police motorcycle with his partner, Patrolman Dennis Egan, seated in the sidecar. They were traveling Westbound on Chicago Avenue. As the officers approached the intersection of Chicago and Lavergne Avenues they collided with an Eastbound passenger automobile driven by Henry A. Smith The auto made a sudden left turn onto northbound Lavergne Avenue cutting off the officers. Officer Peterson was severely injured and Officer Egan sustained severe bruising. Officer Peterson was taken to St. Ann Hospital where doctors attempted to treat his external injuries. He lingered in the hospital for 25 days before succumbing to his injuries on February 19, 1928.
Henry Smith was held pending a Coroner’s Inquest after the crash. Officer Peterson’s death was declared accidental during Coroner’s inquest and Smith was released.
Officer Peterson was waked at his parent’s residence located at 5801 West Bernice Avenue. His funeral mass was held at Irving Park Gospel Hall located at 5614 West Dakin Street. He was laid to rest on February 21, 1928 in Mount Olive Cemetery, 3800 North Narragansett Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
Patrolman Peter Peterson, born July 23, 1896, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on November 19, 1926.
Officer Peterson was survived by his wife, Helen (nee Nolden); parents: Anton, Sr. and Maria (nee Miller)and siblings: Anton, Jr., Christine Soreneen, Marie Greenberg and Mrs. Hede.
Chicago Police Department homicide file not found for this incident.