Death Classification: Performance of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 0 years, 5 months, 8 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 4 - Hyde Park
District of Incident (Present Day): 002 - Wentworth
Location of Occurrence: 43rd & Cottage Grove
Cause of Death: Illness - Pneumonia
Age at Time of Death: 28
Timeline
Date of Birth: 21 Feb 1894
Date of Appointment: 08 Jun 1922
Date of Incident:
End of Watch: 15 Nov 1922
Date of Interment: 18 Nov 1922
Interment Details
Cemetery: Unknown
Grave Location: Grave 2, Lot 1433, Block --, Section 50
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel #14
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed
Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed
Service
Military Service: Unknown
Incident & Biographic Details
Probationary Patrolman Benjamin Franklin Devlin, Star #546, aged 28 years, was a 0 year, 5 month, 8 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the District 4 – Hyde Park.
On November 15, 1922, Officer Devlin died after responding to a paint factory fire near 43rd & Cottage Grove several days earlier. Attempting to take life-saving police action, Officer Devlin entered the paint building fire and breathed in the toxic fumes. He contracted lobar pneumonia as a result of the fire. Though a relatively new officer nearing completion of his probationary period, Officer Devlin displayed the courage and dedication of a proud Chicago Police Officer.
Officer Devlin was waked at his residence, located at 4340 South Vincennes Avenue. His funeral mass was held at Holy Angels Church. He was laid to rest on November 18, 1922 in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 2755 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 2, Lot 1433, Block –, Section 50.
Probationary Patrolman Benjamin Franklin Devlin, born February 21, 1894 received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on June 8, 1922, and was issued Star #546.
Officer Devlin was survived by his wife, Mary Jane (nee Dempsey), children: Dorothy Lillian, age 5, Eileen Mary, age 7, Lorraine and Merle Marie, age 1; mother, Beck and siblings: Earl, John, Julia Garey, Will, Mrs. George Nelson and Mrs. Gilbert Gierling. He was preceded in death by his father, John Joseph.
Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database case not found for this incident.