Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 10 years, 1 month, 13 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: Bureau of Field Services - Detective Division (DD): Headquarters Criminal Investigation Unit

District of Incident (Present Day): 008 - Chicago Lawn

Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile

Age at Time of Death: 40

Timeline


Date of Birth: 19 Feb 1926

Date of Appointment: 11 Feb 1955

Date of Incident: 008 - Chicago Lawn

End of Watch: 24 Mar 1966

Date of Interment: 28 Mar 1966

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Memory Gardens Cemetery - Arlington Heights, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 5

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 3, Line 13

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 41-E: 4

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: U.S. Army

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Detective Ralph C. Dunn, Star #8499, aged 40 years, was an 10 year, 1 month, 13 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Field Services – Detective Division: Headquarters Criminal Investigation Unit.

On March 24, 1966, Detective Dunn was on duty traveling Westbound on the Stevenson Expressway. Near Cicero Avenue his unmarked squad car skidded off the road and struck a guard rail. Detective Dunn was transported to St. Anthony de Padua Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Detective Dunn was waked at Fortuna Funeral Home located at 4401 South Kedzie Avenue, his funeral mass was also held at the Fortuna Funeral Home. He was laid to rest on March 28, 1966 in Memory Gardens Cemetery, 2501 East Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Detective Dunn, born February 19, 1926, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on February 11, 1955. He earned 5 Commendations during his career. In June 1957, he was promoted to the rank of detective. In February 1965, he transferred into the Criminal Investigation Unit.

Detective Dunn served in the U.S. Army, was a veteran of World War II and was Honorably Discharged. He was also a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association, Fraternal Order of Police and the Illinois Police Association. Detective Dunn was survived by his wife, Helen (nee Gilbert); children: Anne Perriwe, Nancy, Steven; father, Frank J., Sr. and brother, Frank J., Jr. He was preceded in death by his mother, Nancy (nee Hodges).