Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 2 years, 4 months, 21 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 2, 4th Precinct - Cottage Grove

District of Incident (Present Day): 001 - Central

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 27

Timeline


Date of Birth: 1881

Date of Appointment: 15 Feb 1907

Date of Incident: 001 - Central

End of Watch: 06 Jul 1909

Date of Interment: 09 Jul 1909

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Graceland Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: REMOVED

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 Joseph A. Dozier, Star #934, aged 27 years, was a 2 year, 4 month, 21 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 2, 4th Precinct – Cottage Grove.

On July 6, 1909, at 3:15 a.m., Patrolman Dozier was shot at 2208 South Dearborn Street by his brother-in-law Izah Holt. Very little is known concerning the details of Officer Dozier’s murder. He is listed in the 1909 Report of the General Superintendent of Police as an officer “Killed in the Discharge of Duty.”

Izah Holt was arrested and later acquitted.

Officer Dozier was waked at his residence located at 2208 South Dearborn Street. He was laid to rest on July 9, 1909 in Graceland Cemetery, 4001 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman Joseph A. Dozier, born in 1881, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on February 15, 1907.

Officer Dozier was survived by his wife.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #2844.

On October 14, 1910, Officer Dozier’s star was retired by General Superintendent LeRoy T. Steward and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 505, Office of the Superintendent of Police. Officer Dozier ‘s star was one of fourteen stars added to the newly instituted memorial to preserve the memory of officers killed in the line of duty. The tradition of retiring a star number was born. Officer Dozier’s star was later removed from the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case due to controversy surrounding his death.