Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 17 years, 2 months, 19 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 4th District - Stanton

District of Incident (Present Day): 002 - Wentworth

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 46

Timeline


Date of Birth: 23 Dec 1898

Date of Appointment: 18 Feb 1928

Date of Incident: 002 - Wentworth

End of Watch: 07 May 1945

Date of Interment: 11 May 1945

 

Interment Details


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

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-2

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 21

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 44

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 57-E: 7

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman Eugene L. Reid, Jr., Star #5408, aged 46 years, was a 17 year, 2 month, 19 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 4th District – Stanton.

On May 7, 1945, Officer Reid was working his beat inside the Harlem Liquor Store at 222 East 35th Street conversing with the proprietor, Julius Dinkin. While he was inside, Barney Johnson, age 35, entered the store and forcibly pulled a female patron, Gladys Dawson, age 28, outside the store where a second female, Mattie Richie, was waiting. An argument ensued between the two women and Johnson. Officer Reid, seeing this, went outside and attempted to mediate the argument. Johnson became indigent with Officer Reid’s interruption and drew a gun and fired at the officer. Officer Reid was struck in the groin and was able to return fire. Officer Reid shot Johnson a total of nine times using the two revolvers he carried before succumbing to his own injuries. Both Officer Reid and Johnson were transported to Michael Reese Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

A follow-up investigation into Barney Johnson revealed that Gladys Dawson, Johnson’s common law wife, had filled an official complaint against Johnson on May 2, 1945.

Officer Reid was waked at Charles B. McMinn Funeral Home. He was laid to rest on May 11, 1945 in Lincoln Cemetery, 12300 South Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman Eugene L. Reid, Jr., born December 23, 1898, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on February 18, 1928. He earned 2 Credible Mentions during his career.