Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 4 years, 5 months, 24 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 3, 7th Precinct - Deering

District of Incident (Present Day): 009 - Deering

Cause of Death: Struck - By Train

Age at Time of Death: 38

Timeline


Date of Birth: 1856

Date of Appointment: 20 Jan 1890

Date of Incident: 009 - Deering

End of Watch: 14 Jul 1894

Date of Interment: 16 Jul 1894

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
 Grave Location: Lot N14, Block 25, Section Y
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-9

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 3

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 21

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 61-E: 28

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman John J. Dempsey, Star # Unknown, aged 38 years, was a 4 year, 5 month, 24 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 3, 7th Precinct – Deering.

On July 12, 1894, Officer Dempsey was protecting the crossing at the intersection of 26th Street and Stewart Avenue when he was caught unaware by a train on the Eastern Illinois railroad tracks. He was struck by an incoming Grand Trunk Railroad train and was mortally wounded. He sustained crushing injuries to his chest and broken left arm and left leg which were also badly mangled. Officer Dempsey was transported to Mercy Hospital by CPD Ambulance where he died two days later on July 14, 1894.

Officer Dempsey was waked at his residence located at No. 3050 Bonfield Street (present day 3050 South Bonfield Street). He was laid to rest on July 16, 1894 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave was located in Lot I94, Block 27, Section T. On October 1, 1894, his grave was relocated to Lot N14, Block 25, Section Y.

Patrolman John J. Dempsey, born in 1856, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on January 20, 1890.

Officer Dempsey was survived by his wife and three children.

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

On March 2, 2010, Officer Dempsey’s star was retired by Superintendent Jody P. Weis and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.