Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 20 years, 9 months, 29 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 29th District - West Chicago

District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West

Cause of Death: Struck - By Vehicle

Age at Time of Death: 55

Timeline


Date of Birth: 17 Sep 1873

Date of Appointment: 02 Apr 1908

Date of Incident: 012 - Near West

End of Watch: 31 Jan 1929

Date of Interment: 02 Feb 1929

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 22

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 John Joseph Keough, Star #2331, aged 55 years, was a 20 year, 9 month, 29 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 29th District – West Chicago.

On January 29, 1929, Officer Keough was directing traffic at the south approach to the Halsted Street bridge at the intersection of Sangamon Street and Ogden Avenue following a severe snow storm. A truck driver, Frank Monticello, age 27, of 908 West Taylor Street, who had failed to follow the officer’s signals, pulled into the wrong lane of traffic. Officer Keough then ordered him to pull over to the curb and then ran into the street. While walking alongside a different moving truck, he slipped and fell, the rear wheel of the truck passing over his body. The officer sustained two broken legs and severe lung and head injuries. Slippery streets and traffic caused by the storm delayed rescue efforts. Officer Keough was taken to Alexian Brothers Hospital where he lingered for two days. At the hospital, one of Keough’s broken legs had to be amputated but the remaining infection caused the officer’s death on January 31, 1929.

Frank Monticello was held by police, but no further action was noted against him.

Officer Keough was waked at Martin Brothers Funeral Home. He was laid to rest on February 2, 1929 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois.

Patrolman John Joseph Keough, born September 17, 1873, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on April 2, 1908. He earned 1 Credible Mention during his career.

Officer Keough was survived by his wife, Nora and five children.

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