Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 9 years, 11 months, 6 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 23, 38th Precinct - East Chicago

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

Cause of Death: Electrocuted

Age at Time of Death: 36

Timeline


Date of Birth: 16 Jan 1880

Date of Appointment: 30 Oct 1906

Date of Incident: 018 - Near North

End of Watch: 05 Oct 1916

Date of Interment: 07 Oct 1916

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
 Grave Location: Lot 6, Block 8, Section B
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Not Listed

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman Gilbert F. Coyne, Star #3992, aged 36 years, was a 9 years, 11 months, 6 days veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 23, 38th Precinct – East Chicago.

On October 4, 1916, at 11:45 p.m., Officer Coyne was on duty and detailed to the Atlas Garage located at 311 East Erie Street. He was detailed to the garage to provided protection due to an ongoing strike. Officer Coyne left the garage after being relieved and headed back to the East Chicago Station, located at 113 West Chicago Avenue, to report in. While walking to the station he observed a damaged lamp post at the intersection of Erie Street and Fairbanks Court. The lamp post was struck by a backing automobile at 11:20 p.m. that night and was now bent. In an attempt to straighten out the post, Officer Coyne touched it and was electrocuted by the feed wire. He sustained burns to his hands and feet dying just after midnight on October 5, 1916 from the jolt of electricity. Officer Coyne was found lying on the sidewalk next to the bent lamp post.

Officer Coyne was waked at his residence located at 1015 North Rush Street. His funeral mass was held at Holy Name Cathedral. He was laid to rest on October 7, 1916 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot 6, Block 8, Section B.

Patrolman Gilbert F. Coyne, born January 16, 1880, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on October 30, 1906.

Officer Coyne was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent Association. He was survived by his parents: Bridget (nee Coffey) and Gilbert H. and siblings: Catherine Seward, Edward F., Mrs. Edward Kelly, Hugh, Mrs. Joseph R. Begg, Mrs. M. Coultry and Mrs. P. J. Maloney.

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