Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: Length of Service Unknown

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 8, 19th Precinct - Stock Yards

District of Incident (Present Day): 009 - Deering

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 35

Timeline


Date of Birth:

Date of Appointment:

Date of Incident: 009 - Deering

End of Watch: 21 Jun 1905

Date of Interment:

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Unknown Cemetery
 Grave Location: Unknown
 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 William Goeghan, Star # Unknown, aged 35 years, was veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 8, 19th Precinct – Stock Yards.

On June 21, 1905, at 3:00 a.m., Officer Goeghan was on duty and responded to a burglary in progress call. A boy reported to police that three men were at work on the safe in David Schantz’s Butcher Shop located at 728 West 47th Street. Six Detectives and two wagon men, one being Officer Goeghan responded to the scene. The wagon stopped a block away from the bakery and the building was quickly surrounded. The Detectives went to the front while the wagon men went to the rear.

The robbers spotted the police detectives in the front and attempted to flee out the rear door. Their attempt to flee was thwarted by the presence of the wagon men and they opened fire on the officers. Officer Goeghan was struck by the first bullet and died instantly. His partner returned fire and was joined by the detectives, who ran to the rear after hearing the gunfire. A foot pursuit ensued all the while the men exchanged gunfire with the police. The chase lasted for three blocks and when the men were near the police station, two of the robbers were shot and the third made good his escape through an alley. The two safe blowers; John O’Hearn, shot in the head, and John Mahoney, shot in his breast, were captured and taken to the hospital.

Patrolman William Goeghan was born in 1870.

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