Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 19 years, 9 months, 18 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: Traffic Division (TD)

District of Incident (Present Day): 003 - Grand Crossing

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 43

Timeline


Date of Birth: 27 Apr 1887

Date of Appointment: 07 Jan 1911

Date of Incident: 003 - Grand Crossing

End of Watch: 25 Oct 1930

Date of Interment: 29 Oct 1930

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-2

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 9

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 28

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 58-E: 2

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman Joseph Michael Fitzpatrick, Star #210, aged 43 years, was a 19 year, 9 month, 18 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Traffic Division (TD).

On October 25, 1930, at 5:45 p.m., Officer Fitzpatrick, while off duty, was going to visit his sister who lived at the Hayes Hotel located at 6345 South University Avenue. Just as he exited his automobile at the Northeast corner of 64th Street and University Avenue, he was accosted by five armed men who announced a robbery. Officer Fitzpatrick resisted and drew his weapon firing at the robbers. A gun battle took place and Officer Fitzpatrick was mortally wounded. Fitzpatrick was able to fire off three rounds before he was struck in the chest, just under the heart. The bandits fled in an automobile and made good their escape.

Detectives investigating Officer Fitzpatrick’s murder recovered a brown coat with a pistol in the pocket. The pistol was believed to be the murder weapon and was subjected to ballistic tests. Unfortunately, ballistic tests were inconclusive and no further developments were made. The bandits have never been identified and are still at large.

Officer Fitzpatrick was waked at his residence located at 907 West Garfield Boulevard. His funeral mass was held in Requiem at Visitation Catholic Church located at 843 West Garfield Boulevard and was laid to rest on October 29, 1930 in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 2755 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman Joseph Michael Fitzpatrick, born April 27, 1887, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on January 7, 1911. Officer Fitzpatrick was a highly regarded member of the force who had spent many years working at Madison and Canal Streets directing traffic before being assigned the busy intersection of Monroe and Dearborn Streets.

Officer Fitzpatrick was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association. He was survived by his wife, Marie (nee Leona); daughter, Marie Leona, age 8 and sister, Mary A.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #9961.