Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 4 years, 11 months, 29 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 7th District - Woodlawn

District of Incident (Present Day): 002 - Wentworth

Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile

Age at Time of Death: 33

Timeline


Date of Birth: 07 Jul 1897

Date of Appointment: 27 May 1926

Date of Incident: 002 - Wentworth

End of Watch: 26 May 1931

Date of Interment: 29 May 1931

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - Alsip, Illinois
 Grave Location: Grave 3, Lot W25, Block 20, Section 11
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 6

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 Michael Francis McGinnis, Star #3094, aged 33 years, was a 4 year, 11 month, 29 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 7th District – Woodlawn.

On May 25, 1931, Officer McGinnis was on patrol riding a police motorcycle. He was in pursuit of a speeding vehicle traveling northbound on State Street. At the intersection with 35th Street he crashed into the back of a truck driven by Frank Sigman of 1028 South Newberry Avenue. Officer McGinnis suffered severe injuries in the crash. He was transported to Chicago Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of May 26, 1931. Frank Sigman was arrested but no further charges were brought against him.

Officer McGinnis was waked at his residence located at 5354 South Winchester Avenue, his funeral mass was also held at his residence. He was laid to rest on May 29, 1931 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 West 111th Street, Alsip, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 3, Lot W25, Block 20, Section 11.

Patrolman Michael Francis McGinnis, born July 7, 1897, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on May 27, 1926.

Officer McGinnis was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association. He was survived by his wife, Rowena Minnie (nee Poeiting), age 34; children: Leona, age 10, Marylin, age 1 and Rita Margaret, age 10; mother, Margaret (nee Monley) and siblings: John, Martin, Mrs. Harry Lettenstrom; Patrick and Tony.