Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 19 years, 2 months, 2 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 6th District - Gresham
District of Incident (Present Day): 006 - Gresham
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 51
Timeline
Date of Birth: 29 Jan 1938
Date of Appointment: 14 Sep 1970
Date of Incident: 006 - Gresham
End of Watch: 16 Nov 1989
Date of Interment: 21 Nov 1989
Interment Details
Cemetery: Restvale Cemetery - Alsip, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-8
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 19
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 3, Line 45
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 48-E: 10
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army Reserve
Incident & Biographic Details
Evidence Technician Elijah Harris, Jr., Star #15208, aged 51 years, was a 19 year, 2 month, 2 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 6th District – Gresham.
On July 31, 1989, at 11:03 p.m., Officer Harris was working 10-99 on the third watch on beat 609. He was writing a parking ticket on an illegally parked vehicle near 1504 West 79th Street when citizen approached him. The citizen reported that he had seen a teen with a gun, riding a white bicycle. Shortly after the report, Officer Harris spotted the offender, Andrew “Mookie“ Jordan, age 16, of 8405 South Loomis Street, at 504 West 79th Street and stopped him. Officer Harris placed Jordan against his squad car and began frisking him. While being frisked, Jordan leaned down and removed a .22 caliber handgun from his waistband. Jordan then jumped onto the patrol car and shot the officer in the abdomen. At 11:05 p.m., Officer Harris called a 10-1 over the radio asking for assistance relating that he was shot. Officers rushed to the scene and upon arrival Officer Harris provided them a description and stated that he only knew the offender by the nickname “Mookie“. Officer Harris was transported to Christ Hospital by CFD Ambulance #30 where he was pronounced dead at 5:30 a.m. on November 16, 1989.
With the help of eyewitnesses, Jordan was identified and apprehended a half hour later at his home. He was held in Cook County Jail on aggravated battery and attempted murder. Upon Officer Harris’ death, the charges were upgraded and Jordan was charged with
1st degree murder.
Officer Harris was waked at Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church located at 7956 South Escanaba Avenue, his funeral mass was also held at Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was laid to rest on November 21, 1989 in Restvale Cemetery, 11700 South Laramie Street, Alsip, Illinois.
Evidence Technician Elijah (NMN) Harris, Jr., born January 29, 1938, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on September 14, 1970. He earned 1 Unit Meritorious Award and 29 Honorable Mentions during his career.
Officer Harris served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1960 thru 1964 and was Honorably Discharged. He was actively serving in the U.S. Army Reserve at the rank of Sergeant at the time of his death. Officer Harris was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was survived by his ex-wives, Jeradine (nee Williams), age 43, Regina and Velma; children: Daryl Eugene Peeks, age 23, Regina Lynne Peeks, age 21, Terry Ann Latimer, age 26 and Tonya Reolar Harris, age 23; mother, Sarah (nee Philips); siblings: Nathaniel and Regina and grandchildren: Corey, Darnell, LaMar and Teonna. He was preceded in death by his father, George.
Incident Recorded Under Chicago Police Department RD #M343964.
On February 6, 1990, Officer Harris’ star was retired by Superintendent LeRoy Martin 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 Harris’ Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.
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