Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 4 years, 2 months, 15 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 13, 32nd Precinct - West Chicago
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 34
Timeline
Date of Birth: Nov 1876
Date of Appointment: 30 Apr 1907
Date of Incident: 15 Jul 1911
End of Watch: 15 Jul 1911
Date of Interment: 17 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 # 5
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 1, Line 40
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 64-W: 13
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Thomas A. Schweig, Star #3427, aged 34 years, was a 4 year, 2 month, 15 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 13, 32nd Precinct – West Chicago.
On July 15, 1911, shortly after 2:00 a.m., Officer Schweig was on duty and walking home. When he passed in front of 1639 West Ohio Street an armed offender confronted him from behind. The gunman immediately fired a shot, striking Officer Schweig. The gunman and two accomplices then fled the scene making good their escape. Officer Schweig was shot twice, once through the head and once through the arm then heart. He died on the scene. A citizen later came across Officer Schweig’s lifeless body and notified the West Chicago Avenue Station. Responding officers discovered Officer Schweig’s revolver still clutched in his hand unfired. Investigators later determined that the murder was committed by one of several ex-convicts sentenced to prison as a result of Officer Schweig’s police work.
Officer Schweig was waked at his residence located at 541 North Ashland Avenue. His funeral mass was held at St. Boniface Catholic Church located at 1358 West Chestnut Street. He was laid to rest on July 17, 1911 in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 2755 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Patrolman Thomas A. Schweig, born in November 1876, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on April 30, 1907.
Officer Schweig was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association and the Progress Council No. 940 Royal Arcanum. He was survived by his wife, Jennie (nee Olsen); children: Robert and Thomas C. and parents: Mary and Matthias.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #4996.
Note: The photo of Officer Schweig is of him wearing his previously assigned star number #803. At the time of the incident his assigned star number was #3427.