Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 9 years, 4 months, 16 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 35th District - East Chicago
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 35
Timeline
Date of Birth: 01 May 1896
Date of Appointment: 26 Oct 1922
Date of Incident: 012 - Near West
End of Watch: 13 Mar 1932
Date of Interment: 17 Mar 1932
Interment Details
Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
Grave Location: Lot N 1/2 3, Block 31, Section U
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-3
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 4
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 32
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 22-W: 15
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: U.S. Army
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman George Thomas Barker, Sr., Star #175, aged 35 years, was a 9 year, 4 month, 16 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 35th District – East Chicago.
On March 13, 1932, at 1:40 a.m., Officer Barker, while off duty, was on medical leave after being shot in front of his home after resisting a robbery attempt in July, 1931. Officer Barker was at the restaurant of Irving Grossman’s, a “Soda Parlor,” located at 1438 West Madison Street. He was there celebrating the 13th wedding anniversary of his friends James and Helen Bingley while also in the company of actresses Sue Ross and Wilma Thompson. They were all at the bar in the back of the restaurant with Mr. Grossman when the two armed bandits entered, announcing an armed robbery. When Officer Barker confronted the offenders, a gun battle ensued. Officer Barker was able to prevent the robbery firing three rounds at the bandits before he was fatally wounded in the incident. Officer Barker was shot in chest and abdomen and was transported to Cook County Hospital where he was pronounced dead later the same day on March 13, 1932. For some unknown reason, Officer Barker identified himself as Joe Anson before giving his real name once at the hospital.
A doctor who had a practice near the restaurant reported that two men entered his office shortly after the shooting seeking medical attention for gunshot wounds. When he informed the men that he would have to call police to report the injuries, the men left the office. The men were later identified as Nick Konemogloos, alias Nick or John Petros and Charles L. Hughes. On January 20, 1933, Konemogloos was identified in New York City and was extradited back to Chicago by State’s Attorney Officers to stand trial for murder. He was found guilty and on May 8, 1993 he was sentenced to life in the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet. Konemogloos died in prison while serving his sentence in the 1960’s. It is unknown if Hughes was ever arrested for his part in the crime.
Officer Barker was waked at his residence located at 2816 West Arthington Street. His funeral mass was held at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica located at 3121 West Jackson Boulevard. He was laid to rest on March 17, 1932 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot N 1/2 3, Block 31, Section U.
Patrolman George Thomas Barker, Sr., born May 1, 1896, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on October 26, 1922. He earned 1 Credible Mention during his career.
Officer Barker served in the U.S. Army in Company 2, 161st DB and 5th Ordinance Repair Shop Detachment, was a veteran of World War I and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Private. He was survived by his wife, Myrtle (nee Sennott), age 33; children: Dorothy, age 13 and George Thomas, Jr., age 11 and siblings: Frank F. and Raymond J.
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