Patrolman Creed | Star #3245

Patrolman Anthony L’Avinere Creed, Star #3245, aged 35 years, was a 9 year, 10 month, 9 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Operational Services – Special Operations Group: Unit 055 – Mounted Patrol.

On August 30, 1983, at 12:45 p.m., Officer Creed was on duty conducting an exercise ride with his horse, Buster, at the Department’s Mounted Patrol Headquarters at the Old South Shore Country Club, located at 7059 South South Shore Drive. Officer Creed and Buster were observed galloping on the beach along the water’s edge by Lifeguard John Connery. They then left the sandy area, continuing to gallop, onto a paved black top roadway and crossed into a grassy area. As they crossed the roadway it appeared to Mr. Connery that Officer Creed was lsing control of Buster. He began to pull back on the horse as he was leaning over the right side of the horse. Buster suddenly kicked his hind legs causing Officer Creed to be thrown from his mount. Officer Creed struck his head on the ground bouncing twice, sustaining facial abraisions and a broken neck. Mr. Connery alerted a second lifeguard Cheryl Macey to call for an ambulance. Connery then ran over to the officers aide and found him lying face up, with his eyes open, and asked if he was okay. Connery received no response from Officer Creed. At this time Connery checked his pulse and opened his mouth, pulling his tongue foward to clear his airway. Senior Lifeguard Sue Carroll alerted First Aide Attendent Owen Kelly to the situation. Kelly ran to the scene and found Officer Creed to be in acute respitory distress. Kelly assisted Officer Creed with the resusitator and checked for a pulse, which was present. Shortly thereafter, the officer went into respitory arrest. Kelly maintained ventilation until the Chicago Fire Department arrived on scene. In cosultation with the staff physician at Billings Hospital, the paramedics were instructed to transport Officer Creed to Jackson Park Hospital. Officer Creed was transported to Jackson Park Hospital by CFD Ambulance #22 and was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Ladipo at 2:20 p.m. on August 30, 1983.

Officer Creed was waked at A. A. Rayner & Sons Funeral Home located at 318 East 71st Street. His funeral mass was held at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church located at 10540 South Halsted Street. He was laid to rest on September 3, 1983 in Oak Woods Cemetery, 1035 East 67th Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman Anthony L’Avinere Creed, born March 21, 1948, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on October 22, 1973. In June, 1980, he was promoted to the rank of Mounted Patrol Officer. He earned 1 Carter Harrison Award and 1 Blue Star Award during his career. He earned both awards after being shot in the head while questioning a suspect in 1979.

Officer Creed served in the U.S. Marine Corps from November 20, 1968 to April 2, 1970, was a veteran of the Vietnam War and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Corporal. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. Officer Creed was survived by his wife, Geraldine Elizabeth (nee Trotter), age 52; children: Gerald Anthony, age 8 and Toni D., age 12; parents: Gerald (CPD) and Rosalie (nee Blakemore) and brother, Victor (Civilian CPD).

Incident Recorded Under Chicago Police Department RD #E321417.