Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 7 years, 11 months, 14 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 18th District - Stock Yards

District of Incident (Present Day): 009 - Deering

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 38

Timeline


Date of Birth: 24 Aug 1891

Date of Appointment: 08 Jun 1922

Date of Incident: 009 - Deering

End of Watch: 22 May 1930

Date of Interment: 26 May 1930

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Mount Greenwood Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-1

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 8

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 27

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 14-W: 13

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: U.S. Army

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman George Robert Neil, Star #5166, aged 38 years, was a 7 year, 11 month, 14 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 18th District – Stock Yards.

On May 18, 1930, at 4:10 a.m., Officer Neil while off duty was having dinner at a Back of the Yards diner located at 5435 South Halsted Street. While there, four offenders entered and were suspected to be part of an Irish club devoted to attacking blacks. They accosted an African-American patron, demanding that he get off his stool. Officer Neil stepped forward, dressed in civilian clothes, and identified himself as a police officer. Officer Neil told the victim that he didn’t have to move and when Neil confronted the offenders, the four men attacked him. One man threw a stool at Neil while the others beat him. As Neil tried to fend off his attackers, one grabbed his gun and shot him twice in the stomach. The offenders then fled in a car. Officer Neil was taken to German Deaconess Hospital at 54th and Morgan Streets. He lingered there for four days before succumbing to his injuries on May 22, 1930.

On May 22, 1930 Daniel Lynch of 5634 South Peoria Street and John Kelly of 5630 South Morgan Street were booked for murder and held by the Coroner who recommended the arrest of their two accomplices, William O’Malley, alias Severson and William Connors. On October 22, 1930, Kelly and Lynch’s cases were nolle prossed by Judge O’Malley and Connors’ case was stricken off the record by Judge Finnegan. It is unknown if William O’Malley was ever arrested.

Officer Neil was laid to rest on May 26, 1930 in Mount Greenwood Cemetery, 2900 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman George Robert Neil, born August 24, 1891, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on June 8, 1922. He earned 1 Credible Mention during his career.

Officer Neil served in the U.S. Army in the 311th Proving Ground and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Private. He was survived by his wife, Josephine (nee Waters), age 34 and daughter, Lillian, age 9.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #10696.