Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 6 months, 22 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 20 - Warren
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 24
Timeline
Date of Birth: 25 Dec 1898
Date of Appointment: 08 Jun 1922
Date of Incident: 30 Dec 1922
End of Watch: 30 Dec 1922
Date of Interment: 02 Jan 1923
Interment Details
Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
Grave Location: Lot 21, Block 13, Section Z
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-7
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 13
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 8
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 41-E: 15
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Probationary Patrolman William J. O’Malley, Star #2, aged 24 years, was a 6 month, 22 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 20 – Warren.
On December 30, 1922, at 12:45 a.m., Officer O’Malley was on duty and working with his partners, Patrolmen Simon R. Kennedy and W. M. Murphy. They were at a patrol box, in the process of reporting in to the station at the end of their shift, when they received a report of a shooting. The officers went to investigate and began responding to Jackson Boulevard and Paulina Street. While en route they observed a man, John Reiss, loitering on the corner of Hermitage Avenue and Van Buren Street. After questioning him, Officer O’Malley attempted to place Reiss into custody for the shooting. Reiss resisted, produced a gun, and fired hoping to cause enough confusion to make good his escape. The bullet he fired struck Officer O’Malley’s police star before it entered his chest. Officer Kennedy drew his service revolver and fired upon Reiss, incapacitating him. Officer O’Malley was rushed to Cook County Hospital where he died shortly after arriving. Reiss was taken to the Bridewell Hospital where he died later that night.
The shooting the officers were responding to began when John Reiss shot a young woman, Minnie Finkelstein, at Adams and Paulina Streets. Miss Finkelstein was walking home with her brother, Isadore and friends, Miss Bessie Klass and Leo Kaufman. They had just attended a high school dance when they encountered Reiss. Reiss was with two other boys when he made unwanted advances toward the girl. When she refused to have anything to do with him, Reiss shot her in the hip. When Miss Bessie Klass attempted to aid her, the two young boys with Reiss fled the scene. It is not known what happened to the two boys as the police did not see them when they encountered Reiss.
Officer O’Malley was waked at his residence located at 417 South Homan Avenue. His funeral mass was held at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica located at 3121 West Jackson Boulevard. He was laid to rest on January 2, 1923 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located 2nd from the North line in Lot 21, Block 13, Section Z.
Probationary Patrolman William J. O’Malley, born December 25, 1898, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on June 8, 1922. He earned 2 Credible Mentions during his career.
Officer O’Malley was a member of Americus Council No. 1279 Knights of Columbus. He was survived by his parents: Mary (nee O’Brien) and William and siblings: Catherine, Margaret, Richard and Sadie.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #7461.