Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 3 years, 5 months, 8 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 12th District - Monroe
District of Incident (Present Day): 010 - Ogden
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 33
Timeline
Date of Birth: 04 Dec 1937
Date of Appointment: 08 Jan 1968
Date of Incident: 16 Jun 1971
End of Watch: 16 Jun 1971
Date of Interment: 21 Jun 1971
Interment Details
Cemetery: Robinson Cemetery - Varnado Washington Parish, Louisiana
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case:
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 23
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 5, Line 21
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 16-E: 29
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Sidney J. Sam, Jr., Star #13524, aged 33 years, was a 3 year, 5 month, 8 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 12th District – Monroe.
On June 16, 1971, Officer Sam had just finished working the 3rd watch. He put a gray jacket over his uniform shirt and drove to 1536 South Komensky Avenue arriving at approximately 12:30 a.m. Officer Sam double parked his 1970 Buick Electra and while sitting in his car he was talking to a woman, who was outside the car standing on the sidewalk. Three offenders walked up to the car, one approached the woman from behind, put a gun into her back and announced a robbery. At this time, Officer Sam, with his left hand, began to reach down to his left side. The robber told Sam, “Don’t try for it.“ At that time one of the offenders, now known as Robert Dismukes, began to shoot at Officer Sam through an open car window firing four times. Officer Sam was struck in the side and back. After shooting Officer Sam, Dismukes pushed Officer Sam into the passenger seat, got into the Buick and fled northbound on Komensky Avenue with the wounded Officer Sam still in the front seat. The other two offenders then fled on foot. Officer Sam was discovered dead in an alley behind 1242 South Karlov Avenue. His car was found abandoned in the alley a block south, in an alley behind 1328 South Karlov Avenue. Missing was Sam’s off duty .32 caliber revolver, his police star and identification.
Subsequent investigation by Area 4 detectives revealed the identity of Robert Dismukes, age 17, Louis Allen and David Lee Johnson, age 18, as the three offenders who robbed and killed Officer Sam. All three offenders were arrested and subsequently charged and convicted for First Degree Murder and Armed Robbery. Detectives recovered Officer Sam’s gun, police star and identification. On December 20, 1971 Robert Dismukes was sentenced to 30 to 75 years in the Illinois Penitentiary, Louis Allen was sentenced to 20 to 50 years in the Illinois Penitentiary and David Lee Johnson was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in the Illinois Penitentiary.
Officer Sam was waked at Biggs and Biggs Funeral Home located at 5744 West North Avenue. He was laid to rest on June 21, 1971 in Robinson Cemetery, Varnado Washington Parish, Louisiana.
Patrolman Sidney J. Sam, Jr., born December 4, 1937, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on January 8, 1968.
Officer Sam was survived by his wife, Anni; daughters: Cindy, age 13; Daphne, age 9 and Debra, age 14 and siblings: Georgie Mae, Myrtis, Ruth Thelma, U. D. and Virgie Lee. He was preceded in death by his parents: Sidney J., Sr. and Thelma (nee Robinson). His daughter Cindy would also became a Chicago Police Officer and was later promoted to Sergeant.