Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 7 years, 1 month, 27 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 11, 15th Precinct - Thirty-Fifth Street

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

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 38

Timeline


Date of Birth: 12 May 1879

Date of Appointment: 04 Mar 1911

Date of Incident: 012 - Near West

End of Watch: 01 May 1918

Date of Interment: 04 May 1918

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
 Grave Location: Lot S of S46, Block 3, Section 10
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-4

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 15

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 1, Line 53

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 6-E: 17

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman James F. Looney, Star #821, aged 38 years, was a 7 year, 1 month, 27 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 11, 15th Precinct – Thirty-Fifth Street.

On April 5, 1918, at 10:00 p.m., Officer Looney was on duty leaving a saloon owned by George Hedel located at 1150 West 22nd Street. As he was leaving he observed two suspicious men enter the saloon. Officer Looney recognized the men to be robbers and attempted to draw his revolver in an attempt to frustrate the robbery. The bandits opened fire and shot him at close range before he could fully draw his revolver. The bandits then fled the scene making good their escape. Officer Looney was transported to Cook County Hospital where he was treated and released. His wound appeared to be non-life threatening, however the wound became infected and eventually turned gangrenes. He would later die from the injury and was pronounced dead on May 1, 1918.

The gunman were still at large as of January 1919.

Officer Looney was waked at his residence located at 3427 South Marshfield Avenue. He was laid to rest on May 4, 1918 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot S of S46, Block 3, Section 10.

Patrolman James F. Looney, born May 12, 1879, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on March 4, 1911.

Officer Looney was survived by his wife, Catherine and three children.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #4300.