Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 2 years, 11 months, 27 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 10, 24th Precinct - West Thirteenth Street
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 34
Timeline
Date of Birth: 05 Jul 1876
Date of Appointment: 12 Mar 1908
Date of Incident: 012 - Near West
End of Watch: 11 Mar 1911
Date of Interment: 14 Mar 1911
Interment Details
Cemetery: Mount Carmel Cemetery - Hillside, Illinois
Grave Location: Grave 120, Section H, Block 1
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-2
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 15
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 22-W: 3
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Thomas Edward Tighe, Star #2700, aged 34 years, was a 2 year, 11 month, 27 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 10, 24th Precinct – West Thirteenth Street.
On January 10, 1911, at 2:35 a.m., Officer Tighe responded to a complaint from a woman received at the station. She stated that three men had insulted her on the corner of Hastings and Leavitt Streets where she resides. Upon arrival, the woman was gone, but Officer Tighe observed four men, Michael Bradshaw, Mr. Carr, Edward Etchingham and Mr. Wayne, standing on the corner. Officer Tighe ordered the men to disperse. Michael Bradshaw took exception to Officer Tighe’s command and spoke to him offensively. In response, Officer Tighe placed Bradshaw under arrest and was attempting to lead him to a patrol box when Bradshaw’s two friends intervened. The friends protested, claiming that there were no grounds for arrest. Officer Tighe took a moment to address the men. Taking advantage of the distraction, Bradshaw was able to break away from the officer’s grip. He knocked Officer Tighe to the ground and fled the scene with his friends.
Officer Tighe quickly gained his footing and gave chase. Upon seeing the policeman in pursuit, Edward Etchingham turned and fired his weapon several times, striking Officer Tighe in the abdomen. Despite being mortally wounded, Officer Tighe returned fire striking one of the offenders. The injured offender left a trail of blood running east down Hastings Street in the direction they had fled. Officer Tighe was transported to Cook County Hospital where he was able to provide details of the incident before slipping into unconsciousness. He lingered in the hospital for two months before succumbing to a Septic Infection shortly after 5:00 p.m. on March 11, 1911.
On March 13, 1911, Edward Etchingham and Michael Bradshaw were arrested and held to the Grand Jury by the Coroner. Carr and Wayne were also arrested. On June 25, 1911, Bradshaw, Carr and Wayne were acquitted by Judge Kavanaugh. On July 15, 1911, Edward Etchingham was sentenced to 30 years in the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet by Judge Kavanaugh.
Officer Tighe was waked at his residence located at 825 South Campbell Avenue. He was laid to rest on March 14, 1911 in Mount Carmel Cemetery, 1400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 120, Section H, Block 1.
Patrolman Thomas E. Tighe, born July 5, 1876, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on March 12, 1908.
Officer Tighe was survived by his wife, Margaret C. (nee Bergin) and children: Donald Edward T., Raymond A. (CPD) and Stella.
Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #5257.
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