Patrolman McCauley | Star #6700

Patrolman Jerome Marlen McCauley, Star #6700, aged 35 years, was a 3 year, 5 month, 6 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Accident Prevention Bureau.

On May 29, 1936, Officer McCauley and his partner, Patrolman Edward Brieske were working beat 177. They monitored a radio broadcast that a vehicle with five armed robbers was wanted after robbing a produce store at 4200 West Fullerton and the Midwest Poultry Store at 4063 North Milwaukee. The flash message related that the men had stolen $200.00 from the Milwaukee store and that the last three digits of their license plate were 953. As officers pulled up to the intersection of Dean and Paulina Streets at approximately 8:45 p.m. they observed a car driving Southbound on Elston Avenue. The occupants inside the vehicle matched the description from the flash message and at Damen Avenues, turned their sirens on, and pursued it. Officer Brieske, driving the squad car, chased after the bandits narrowly missing other vehicle as they turned onto Wood Street. The getaway car was slowed down near Webster Avenue and Wood Street by construction. This allowed the officer to get within 50 feet of the bandit’s car. Officer Brieske leapt from the squad car and fired at the bandits. One of the bandits then broke out the back glass of their car and opened fire as they drove past a construction barrier. As Officer Brieske returned to the squad car, he noticed that one of the bandit’s bullets had struck the squad car. He paid no attention to it as he got back into the car and continued the chase.

Officer McCauley began to return fire as the cars approached the Bloomingdale Street viaduct. In the exchange of gunfire, McCauley was struck in the head when a bullet came through the windshield and hit him above his right eye with the bullet exiting behind his right ear. At that point McCauly slumped over and dropped his gun onto the street as the pursuit continued. Officer Brieske, not knowing his partner was hit, continued the chase weaving in and out of traffic. It was only when Brieske heard a low groan when he looked over at his partner and saw that he was on the floor of the car with a gunshot wound to the head. Seeing this, Officer Brieske immediately abandoned the pursuit and drove his partner to North Avenue Hospital. Officer McCauley would succumb to his injuries one hour after arriving at the hospital.

The bandits made good their escape driving Eastbound on Julian Street before abandoning their car at 1550 West Orchard Street. The description of the bandits was provided by the victim of the second robbery, Mrs. Sidney Lewis. She related to responding officers that the bandits were all fairly young. The car in which the bandits were driving had been reported stolen on May 9, 1936 by its owner, Herbert Max of 2420 North Lawndale Avenue.

On June 18, 1936, Frank Korczykowski, age 26, one of the suspects involved in the crime was identified and shot by arresting officers when he attempted to reach for his pistol. Korczykowski was transported to the Bridewell Hospital with a bullet wound to the head. He survived the incident and made a full recovery. On June 24, 1936, Andrew Bogacki, age 25 and Paul Jenkot, age 24, were also arrested in connection with the crimes.

On July 30, 1936, While standing trial for Officer McCauley’s murder, Bogacki and Korczykowski made a daring attempt to escape from the criminal courts building. Their attempt was thwarted and as a result they were heavily guarded when they were brought before Judge Lewe. Andrew Bogacki, Paul Jenkot and Frank Korczykowski stood trial for the robberies and murder of Officer McCauly and were eventually found guilty. On September 28, 1936, Jankot was sentenced to 199 years in the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet. On August 17, 1936, Bogacki and Korczykowski were sentenced to death in the electric chair after they were found to have played more fatal roles in the crimes. On October 21, 1936, Bogacki and Korczykowski were executed in the electric chair at Cook County Jail.

Officer McCauley was waked at his residence located at 627 Dole Avenue. His funeral mass was held at St. Clement Catholic Church located at 642 West Deming Place. He was laid to rest on June 1, 1936 in St. Joseph Cemetery, 3100 North Thatcher Avenue, River Grove, Illinois.

Patrolman Jerome Marlen McCauley, born June 22, 1905, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on September 27, 1935.

Officer McCauley served in the Armed Forces, was a veteran of World War I and was Honorably Discharged. He was also a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association. Officer McCauley was survived by his wife, Ethel Helen (nee McCarthy), age 22; children, John Charles, age 2 and Marlen, age 5; parents: Delia (nee Marley) and John P. and siblings: David, Francis M., John W., Joseph Hugh, Patrick M. and Robert C.