Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 8 years, 4 months, 19 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: Motorcycle Division
District of Incident (Present Day): 016 - Jefferson Park
Cause of Death: Crash - Motorcycle (Pursuit)
Age at Time of Death: 33
Timeline
Date of Birth: 15 Aug 1899
Date of Appointment: 08 May 1924
Date of Incident: 27 Sep 1932
End of Watch: 27 Sep 1932
Date of Interment: 30 Sep 1932
Interment Details
Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
Grave Location: Lot 17, Block 1, Section B
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case:
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 24
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 4, Line 48
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 13-W: 19
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: U.S. Army
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Richard John Keogh, Star # Unknown, aged 33 years, was an 8 year, 4 month, 19 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Motorcycle Division.
On September 27, 1932, Officer Keogh was attempting to stop a traffic violator at the intersection of Rosedale and Milwaukee Avenues. Another vehicle driven by John Kostak, while driving at a high speed, crashed into Officer Keogh’s motorcycle. Officer Keogh sustained serious injuries in the motorcycle accident. He was transported to Belmont Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving on September 27, 1932. Kostak was taken into custody by responding officers.
Officer Keogh was waked at a chapel located at 2114 West Irving Park Road. His funeral mass was held at St. Benedict Parish Church located at 2215 West Irving Park Road. He was laid to rest on September 30, 1932 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located 4th from the South line Rear in Lot 17, Block 1, Section B.
Patrolman Richard John Keogh, born August 15, 1899, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on May 8, 1924. He earned 1 Credible Mention during his career.
Officer Keogh served in the U.S. Army from October 20, 1918 thru January 2, 1919 in Company B, 308th Battalion and the 137th Tank Corps, was a veteran of World War I and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Sergeant. He was survived by his wife, Loretta (nee Heidelmeir), age 30 and children: Dorothy, age 9 and Richard, age 8.