Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 3 years, 2 months, 17 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: Traffic Division
District of Incident (Present Day): 002 - Wentworth
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 25
Timeline
Date of Birth: 18 Feb 1902
Date of Appointment: 21 May 1924
Date of Incident: 03 Aug 1927
End of Watch: 07 Aug 1927
Date of Interment: 10 Aug 1927
Interment Details
Cemetery: Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-11
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 19
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 20
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 3-W: 16
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Thomas J. Healy, Star #5416, aged 25 years, was a 3 year, 2 month, 17 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Traffic Division.
On August, 3, 1927, at 11:00 p.m., Officer Healy was off duty and in plain clothes when Porter Simpson approached him on the street. Simpson asked him if he would like to call on some women in a nearby flat. Officer Healy decided to raid the disorderly house and relocated with Simpson to a third floor apartment located at 71 East 46th Street. The men made it to the third floor porch when Simpson produced a revolver, announced a robbery and demanded Officer Healy hand over his money. Officer Healy, expecting some such move, had his revolver at the ready and both men opened fire almost simultaneously. Both men were struck by gunfire and fell to the porch floor continuing to shoot at each other until Simpson was killed. Officer Healy was mortally wounded and was shot in his abdomen in which a bullet penetrated his liver. He was transported to Chicago Hospital where he died five days later on August 7, 1927. Simpson was killed on the scene.
Officer Healy was waked at his residence located at 6810 South Princeton Avenue. His funeral mass was held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church located at 4515 South Wells Street. He was laid to rest on August 10, 1927 in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 2755 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Patrolman Thomas J. Healy, born February 18, 1902, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on May 21, 1924.
Officer Healy was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association. He was survived by his parents: Joseph M. and Katherine (nee Durkin), siblings: Bernard P., Ernest, Frank, Joseph and the late Charles.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #8249.