Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 17 years, 6 months, 20 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 32nd District - Shakespeare

District of Incident (Present Day): 014 - Shakespeare

Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile

Age at Time of Death: 42

Timeline


Date of Birth: 01 Nov 1899

Date of Appointment: 08 May 1924

Date of Incident: 014 - Shakespeare

End of Watch: 29 Nov 1941

Date of Interment: 02 Dec 1941

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Acacia Park Cemetery - Norridge, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-10

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 13

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: U.S. Navy Reserve Force

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman William McKinley Buck, Star #5498, aged 42 years, was a 17 year, 6 month, 20 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 32nd District – Shakespeare.

On November 28, 1941, Officer Buck and his partner, Patrolman Benjamin Smith, were working the first watch on routine patrol. As the officers approached the intersection of Cortland Street and California Avenue, their patrol car was struck by another vehicle being driven by Frank Corso, age 25. Officer Smith suffered minor injuries. Officer Buck was transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital where he was placed into an induced coma due to severe brain injury sustained during the crash. Buck died the next day from his injuries on November 29, 1941.

According to court records, Corso had been fined three times in the past year on speeding charges. On January 13, 2008, Corso died in Villa Park, Illinois at the age of 93.

Officer Buck was waked at a chapel located at 4335 West Armitage Avenue, his funeral was also held at the chapel. He was laid to rest on December 2, 1941 in Acacia Park Cemetery, 7800 West Irving Park Road, Norridge, Illinois.

Patrolman William McKinley Buck, born November 1, 1899, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on May 8, 1924. He earned 2 Credible Mentions during his career.

Officer Buck served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from May 28, 1918 thru December 19, 1921, was a veteran of World War I and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Seaman 2nd Class. He was also a member of Chicago Police Post No. 207 American Legion. Officer Buck was survived by his wife, Dorothy Hazel (nee Leimann), age 32; son, William Richard, age 13; mother: Margaret (nee Poggensee) and siblings: Christine Stark, Grace Connolly, Hannah Mueller, Lester, Pearl Gross and Walter. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Marjorie Jane, age 5. He was preceded in death by his brother, Otto.

On July 17, 2018, Officer Buck’s star was retired by Superintendent of Police Eddie T. Johnson and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.