Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 18 years, 10 months, 8 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 9 - Kensington
District of Incident (Present Day): 005 - Calumet
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 47
Timeline
Date of Birth: 03 Oct 1879
Date of Appointment: 23 Dec 1907
Date of Incident: 30 Oct 1926
End of Watch: 31 Oct 1926
Date of Interment:
Interment Details
Cemetery: Cedar Park Cemetery - Calumet Park, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-10
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 4
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 18
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 11-W: 11
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Sergeant Floyd A. Beardsley, Star #881, aged 47 years, was an 18 year, 10 month, 8 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 9 – Kensington.
On October 30, 1926, Detectives from the Kensington station were searching the area for a notorious car thief, Timothy Hennessy, who was a known member of an organized gang of auto thieves. At 2:15 p.m., Sergeant Beardsley and his partner, Sergeant Andrew Harrah, located Hennessy’s cohorts, Stanley Gracyas and Henry Perry, in a garage located at 312 West 116th Street. Gracyas and Perry were attempting to transport a stolen car being temporarily stored in the garage that was recently rented by Hennessy. The sergeants were able to safely arrest Gracyas, but Perry was able to escape. Sergeant Harrah went back to the scene to investigate the garage and Gracyas’ rooming house while Sergeant Beardsley dealt with Gracyas. Once Gracyas was alone with Beardsley, he pulled out a concealed revolver and fired at Beardsley. Gracyas then jumped into an automobile with Hennessey and escaped. As they were escaping, Sergeant James J. O’Brien appeared. O’Brien exchanged gunfire with Gracyas as they made good their escape and was struck by a bullet in the right hand. Officer Beardsley succumbed to his wounds the next day on October 31, 1926.
After an extensive manhunt, Henry Perry was located and arrested a block away. On December 7, 1926, the Coroner recommended the arrest of Gracyas as the principal and Tim Hennessey as an accessory and held Henry Perry as an accessory. On February 8, 1927, Gracyas was apprehended, brought back from Colorado and turned over to the Sheriff. Hennessy was also arrested and charged with accessory to murder. On April 15, 1927, Hennessey’s and Perry’s cases were stricken off the record by Judge Sullivan.
Sergeant Beardsley’s funeral service was held at N. G. Carslon & Sons Funeral Home located at 119th Street and Stewart Avenue. He was laid to rest on November 3, 1926 in Cedar Park Cemetery, 12540 South Halsted Street, Calumet Park, Illinois.
Sergeant Floyd A. Beardsley, born October 3, 1879, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on December 23, 1907. He earned 5 Credible Mentions during his career. On November 8, 1913, he was promoted to 2nd Class Detective Sergeant, becoming effective on November 10, 1913 and his title being officially changed by order of the city council on January 11, 1915. On June 28, 1921, he was promoted to Sergeant.
Sergeant Beardsley was a Master Mason. He was survived by his wife, Ella; father, Albert and brother, Charles.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #7646.
On September 14, 1928, Patrolman James J. O’Brien would be shot in the line of duty dying two days later on September 16, 1928.