Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 26 years, 8 months, 3 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 17th District - New City

District of Incident (Present Day): 004 - South Chicago

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 58

Timeline


Date of Birth: 09 Jan 1874

Date of Appointment: 06 Apr 1906

Date of Incident: 004 - South Chicago

End of Watch: 09 Dec 1932

Date of Interment: 13 Dec 1932

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - Alsip, Illinois
 Grave Location: Grave 2, Lot S14, Block 21, Section 9
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-3

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 16

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 34

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 63-E: 16

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman William Daniel Lundy, Star #2179, aged 58 years, was a 26 year, 8 month, 3 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 17th District – New City.

On December 9, 1932, at 3:00 p.m., Officer Lundy while on patrol stopped in to visit the owner, Mrs. Vera Walush, of a grocery store located at 4312 South Ashland Avenue. While Officer Lundy sat at the back of the store, he observed two armed robbers enter and announce a robbery. In an attempt to avoid bloodshed Officer Lundy did not draw his weapon, but instead tackled one of the offenders. The second gunman shot him in the back six times. Both suspects were apprehended Officer Lundy was transported to Southtown Hospital where he was pronounced dead on December 9. 1932.

Both suspects were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. The mother of one of the suspects was so convinced that her son was innocent that 13 years later she offered $5,000.00, which took her that long to save, as a reward for the real killer. The case drew national attention and led to the chief witness admitting that she had lied under oath. In 1945, Governor Dwight H. Green pardoned the mother’s son immediately. The pardoned suspect died in 1983. The other suspect was pardoned in 1950. In 1948 the story was made into a motion picture titled, “Call Northside 777,“ starring Jimmy Stewart.

Officer Lundy was laid to rest on December 13, 1932 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 West 111th Street, Alsip, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 2, Lot S14, Block 21, Section 9.

Patrolman William Daniel Lundy, born January 9, 1874, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on April 6, 1906. He earned 7 Credible Mentions and 1 Extra Compensation for Meritorious Conduct totaling $180.00 during his career.

Officer Lundy was survived by his wife, Josephine Agnes (nee Vincent), age 56 and children: Francis Lorrain, age 23, Irene E., age 22, John Bernard, age 17, Marie J., age 28 Mary Ellen, age 22, Philip Adrian, age 26 and William V., age 30.