Probationary Patrolman Daniel Joseph Doffyn | Star #14030

Probationary Patrolman Daniel Joseph Doffyn, Star #14030, aged 40 years, was an 8 month, 3 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department and was assigned to the Bureau of Staff Services – Education and Training Division: Unit 044 – Recruit Training, detailed to the 15th District – Austin.

On March 8, 1995, at 3:21 p.m., Officer Doffyn was on duty and assigned to work beat 1533 with his partner Patrolman Robert Podkowa. Just after roll call, Officer Doffyn and other officers were heading for their squad cars at the Austin District police station. They were about to begin their shift when they heard a radio report of a burglary in progress at a three story, 15-unit apartment building directly across the street from the police station.

Officer Daniel Doffyn and Probationary Patrolman Milan “Mike” Bubalo, beat 1513, responded. A neighbor had alerted police to three men entering a first floor apartment by smashing a window. Unbeknownst to the officers, the men, Murray Blue, age 24, Clyde Cowley, age 18 and Jimmy Parker, age 33, were seeking a “safe-house“ to hide in. Approximately 20 minutes before, the three suspects shot and injured a rival gang member on the 4300 block of West Maypole Avenue. Blue, shot Young as Parker and Cowley sat in the car with him. They fled to an apartment located at 750 North Lorel Avenue; one of the suspect’s girlfriends. She was not home at the time and they broke in. Fearing that police were chasing them for the earlier shooting, one of the suspects reportedly ordered his cohorts to go “at it till the end,“ and they obliged.

When the officers arrived to the scene they saw the broken glass outside and entered the building. As they knocked on the unit’s door, they could hear glass breaking and footsteps from inside as the trio attempted to escape through the apartment’s rear. The three men inside assumed the officers were there to arrest them in connection to the shooting. Officers Doffyn and Bubalo ran outside to catch fleeing suspects. Then, officer Doffyn caught Clyde Cowley and held him in a “bear hug“ as the suspect struggled with him. Simultaneously, in the rear of the building, a responding officer walked into Parker and Blue. Parker was unarmed and raised his hands in the air. Blue was yielding a TEC-9 sub-machine gun and ran from the officer in the direction of Officers Doffyn and Bubalo. Upon seeing the two officers, Blue unleashed multiple shots, striking both officers. Officer Bubalo was shot in the hip and Officer Doffyn was shot in the right side of his head and right side of his chest at the clavicle. The wounded Officer Bubalo was able to return gunfire and shot Blue. Officer Buballo and Blue made a full recovery. Officer Doffyn was transported to at Cook County Hospital by CFD #52 and pronounced dead by Dr. Bredeman at 8:25 p.m. on March 8, 1995.

Blue, Cowley, and Parker were found guilty of Officer Doffyn’s murder and the attempted murder of Officer Bubalo. Blue was sentenced to death, but that conviction was overturned by then Governor George H. Ryan who issued a moratorium on the death penalty and emptied the state’s death row by commuting the sentences of 167 inmates to life in prison. Blue is currently serving his term without the possibility of parole. Clyde Cowley will be eligible for parole on March 8, 2015. Jimmy Parker will be eligible for parole on January 20, 2028.

On October 17, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court ordered new trials for two men convicted of killing Officer Doffyn, because the prosecution displayed the bloodstained uniform of Officer Daniel Doffyn. The court applied a similar reasoning in their decision that threw out the convictions of two who were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in Doffyn’s shooting.

Officer Doffyn was waked at Drake & Son Funeral Home located at 5303 North Western Avenue. His funeral mass was held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church located at 3301 West Byron Street. He was laid to rest on March 11, 1995 in Rosehill Cemetery, 5800 North Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Probationary Patrolman Daniel Joseph Doffyn, born October 30, 1954, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on July 5, 1994 and was in Recruit Class 94-4C at the Jackson Street Police Academy. He earned 1 Superintendent’s Award of Valor (posthumously) and 1 Police Blue Star Award (posthumously) during his career.

Officer Doffyn was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was survived by his ex-wife, Caryn Sue (nee Price), age 39; daughter, Brittany Devannue, age 8 and parents: Lea (nee Farasyn) and Roger Joseph. His daughter would later become a Chicago Police Officer.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #Z101225.

On April 19, 1996, Officer Doffyn’s star was retired by Superintendent Matt L. Rodriguez 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 Doffyn’s Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.

On February 24, 1998, in memory of Officer Doffyn, Bill H.R. 2773, was proposed in the United States House of Representatives to designate the facility of the United States Postal service located at 3750 North Kedzie Avenue, as the “Daniel J. Doffyn Post Office Building.“ Two-thirds of the member in the house voted in the affirmative to suspend the rules and the bill was passed. It was ordered, that the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in said bill. The senate brought the bill to a vote and the bill was approved.