Patrolman Timothy Thomas Devine | Star #1814

Patrolman Timothy Thomas Devine, Star #1814, aged 48 years, was a 13 year, 9 month, 5 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 10, 28th Precinct – Lake.

On August 11, 1902, at 3:30 a.m., Officer Devine and Patrolman Charles F. Pennell were ambushed by gunfire when they were following two burglary suspects who came out of alley on Jackson Boulevard between Paulina Street and Ashland Avenue and fired six shots. Both officers returned fire, each firing twice, one of them wounding one of the fleeing assailants. Officers Devine and Pennell were mortally wounded in the attack and were found by responding officers lying at the mouth of the alley. Officer Devine was found with his gun still in his hand, while Officer Pennell’s gun was found approximately twenty feet away next to a fence in the alley. Officer Devine was found dead at the scene. Officer Pennell was taken to Cook County Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the next day on August 12, 1902.

Before Officer Pennell’s death, he was able to give a brief description of their assailants. He described two men, one six feet tall with a silk hat, the other approximately 5′ 8“ tall. Trying to convey more details, Officer Pennell was unable to due to his injuries.

There were six arrests after the murders. John Pike was arrested on suspicion but later discharged on July 21, 1903. On November 30, 1909, Charles Kruger, under sentence of death for the murder of Constable Henry F. Bierer in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on July 10, 1903, confessed to the murders of Officer Devine and Pennell. On February 11, 1904, Bierer was hanged in Pennsylvania. On August 12, 1905, Louis Stockowski was also arrested on information given by Louis Growzeski, who was at the time serving a sentence in Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet.

Officer Devine was waked at his residence located at 741 West Ohio Street. His funeral mass was held at St. Malachy’s Church. He was laid to rest on August 14, 1902 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot 24, Block 39, Section S.

Patrolman Timothy Thomas Devine, born in May 1854, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on November 7, 1888.

Officer Devine was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association and Enterprise Lodge No. 103 of the Order of Columbian Knights. He was survived by his wife, Ellen and children: Bert, Catherine, Eleanor, John, Margaret, May, Myles, Thomas and Timothy.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #574.

In February 1958, Officer Devine’s star was retired by Commissioner Timothy J. O’Connor and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 1121 South State Street. In 2000, Chicago Police Headquarters moved to a new facility at 3510 South Michigan Avenue, Officer Devine’s Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.