Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 6 years, 2 months, 28 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 37th District - Sheffield

District of Incident (Present Day): 019 - Town Hall

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 33

Timeline


Date of Birth: 22 Feb 1899

Date of Appointment: 14 Sep 1926

Date of Incident: 019 - Town Hall

End of Watch: 12 Dec 1932

Date of Interment: 16 Dec 1932

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: All Saints Catholic Cemetery - Des Plaines, Illinois
 Grave Location: Grave 2, Lot N15, Block 23, Section 6
 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: U.S. Navy Reserve

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman Albert George Magoon, Sr., Star #5640, aged 33 years, was a 6 year, 2 month, 28 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 37th District – Sheffield Automobile Detail.

On December 12, 1932, at 6:10 p.m., Officer Magoon while off duty in civilian clothes stopped into a soft drink parlor owned by Jerry Mass located at 2908 North Halsted Street, 2nd Floor. He stopped in to visit with Moss, his friend, after he finished his shift. Upon entering the establishment he observed two men yelling profanities at Mass for not using their product. The two men were there posing as agents of the alcohol syndicate. Mass told them that he couldn’t use a gallon a week. It was at this time that Officer Magoon stepped in and said, “Get on out with your talk about syndicates. The Mayor said there’s no more syndicates.” Hearing this one of the men went outside and came back in with a third man. Seeing the third guy come in, Officer Magoon ordered the man to take his hand out of his pocket, suspecting he may have a gun. This precipitated a fight and the man drew a weapon and fired at Officer Magoon. Officer Magoon was struck and mortally wounded, dying shortly thereafter. The three bandits then fled the establishment, getting into a car and making good their escape.

The same night, five men were arrested in connection with the shooting. One of them was Paul Nelson of 912 West Dakin Street, who was said to be the head of the liquor ring and was known to have recently quarreled with Mass.

Officer Magoon was laid to rest on December 16, 1932 in All Saints Catholic Cemetery, 700 North River Road, Des Plaines, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 2, Lot N15, Block 23, Section 6.

Patrolman Albert George Magoon, Sr., born February 22, 1899, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on September 14, 1926.

Officer Magoon served in the U.S. Navy Reserve Force from July 17, 1918 thru January 27, 1919, was a veteran of World War I and was Honorably Discharged. He was survived by his wife, Estelle (nee Hanick), age 29 and son, Albert George, Jr., age 2.