Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 6 years, 0 months, 27 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 6th District - Hyde Park
District of Incident (Present Day): 002 - Wentworth
Cause of Death: Struck - By Vehicle
Age at Time of Death: 37
Timeline
Date of Birth: 10 Mar 1891
Date of Appointment: 08 Jun 1922
Date of Incident: 04 Jul 1928
End of Watch: 05 Jul 1928
Date of Interment: 09 Jul 1928
Interment Details
Cemetery: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - Alsip, Illinois
Grave Location: Grave 1, Lot N7, Block 10, Section 2
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case:
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 3
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall:
Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Thomas McNamara, Star # Unknown, aged 37 years, was a 6 year, 0 month, 27 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 6th District – Hyde Park.
On July 4, 1928, at 12:00 a.m., Officer McNamara was on foot patrol crossing the street on Drexel Boulevard between 49th and 50th Streets when he was struck by a vehicle. According to a witness the driver, David Greenfield, hit the Officer, got out to look at him, then got back in his car and sped off. One of the witnesses was conscientious enough to write down the license plate number of Greenfield before he sped away. Officer McNamara was transported to Washington Park Hospital where was pronounced dead one day later on July 5, 1928.
With the license plate number in hand, police were able to track the vehicle to David Greenfield of 4170 South Drexel Boulevard. However, Mr. Greenfield voluntarily showed up with his attorney to the Coroner’s Inquest into the officer’s death and surrendered. Greenfield was placed in custody and held at the Hyde Park station until the Inquest reconvened on July 11, 1928. The inquest was reconvened and the findings of the police investigation were presented to the Grand Jury. Greenfield remained in custody until the Grand Jury came back with a result. On August 15, 1928, David Greenfield was exonerated by the Coroner. On September 20, 1928, however, he was held to the grand jury on bonds of $6000.00 by Judge Heller. On October 15, 1928, a No Bill was returned by the Grand Jury.
Officer McNamara was laid to rest on July 9, 1928 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 West 111th Street, Alsip, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 1, Lot N7, Block 10, Section 2.
Patrolman Thomas McNamara, born March 10, 1891, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on June 8, 1922.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #10632.