Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Lincoln Park Police Department

Served: Length of Service Unknown

Unit of Assignment / Detail: Motorcycle Division

District of Incident (Present Day): 018 - Near North

Cause of Death: Crash - Motorcycle (Pursuit)

Age at Time of Death: 34

Timeline


Date of Birth: 16 Feb 1895

Date of Appointment:

Date of Incident: 018 - Near North

End of Watch: 08 Feb 1930

Date of Interment: 11 Feb 1930

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Mount Olive Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-1

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 13

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 27

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 32-E: 16

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: U.S. Army

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Park Policeman Harry Sigurd Olsen, Star #219, aged 34 years, was a veteran of the Lincoln Park Police Department, assigned to the Motorcycle Division.

On February 8, 1930, Officer Olsen was riding his police motorcycle in Lincoln Park on Outer Lake Shore Drive between Belden and Webster Avenues when he spotted a speeding vehicle. The officer was in pursuit of the vehicle when his motorcycle and sidecar struck a pothole causing him to lose control. Officer Olsen was thrown from the motorcycle, head on, into a passing vehicle driven by Ben Strouse of 5220 South Kimbark Avenue. Officer Olsen was severely injured being knocked unconscious. He was transported to Columbus Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving on February 8, 1930.

Officer Olsen was waked at a funeral home located at 4642 North Western Avenue, his funeral mass was also held at the funeral home. He was laid to rest on February 11, 1930 in Mount Olive Cemetery, 3800 North Narragansett Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Park Policeman Harry Sigurd Olsen was born on February 16, 1895.

Officer Olsen served in the U.S. Army serving with the 58th Brigade’s 122nd Field Artillery Regiment, was a veteran of World War I and was Honorably Discharged. He served under the command of Brigadier General James A. Shipton, which was also the same regiment that Colonel Robert McCormick served in France. Officer Olsen was also a member of the Lincoln Park Police Social and Benevolent Association. He was survived by his wife, Esther (nee Johnson), age 33; parents: Andrew and Augusta (nee Erick) and siblings: Earl, Mrs. S. W. Shaves and Mrs. H. C. Luepke.

Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database case not found for this incident.

The Lincoln Park Police Department, in the City of Chicago, was disbanded on April 30, 1934. On May 1, 1934, the remaining officers were transferred to the Chicago Park District Police Department, which was organized on the same date. Three park District police departments, Lincoln, West, and South were consolidated into the Chicago Park District Police Department. Fallen Officer of the Lincoln Park Police Department are currently honored on the memorial wall of the Chicago Police Department as Chicago Police Officers. Their stars are displayed in the Honored Star Case located in the lobby of the Chicago Police Department at 3510 South Michigan Avenue.