Police Officer Gary | Star #12003

Police Officer Conrad Charles Gary, Star #12003, aged 31 years, was a 1 year, 9 month, 1 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 5th District – Calumet.

On December 17, 2018, at approximately 6:20 p.m., Officer Gary and his partner, Police Officer Eduardo Marmolejo #10101, were working Beat #505. They responded to a ShotSpotter alert of shots fired at 101st Street and Dauphin Avenue. While investigating the shots fired alert the officers encountered Edward R. Brown, aged 24 years, whom had fired the shots detected by ShotSpotter holding a gun. Brown began to flee Southbound on Dauphin Avenue and the officers gave chase. The foot pursuit continued up a train embankment located at 103rd Street and Dauphin Avenue where the offender crossed the tracks heading towards Cottage Grove Avenue.

Still in pursuit the officers began to cross the tracks at 701 East 103rd Street. While standing on the Southbound tracks, the officers observed a northbound train approaching and waited for it to pass before crossing the tracks. Preoccupied with the foot pursuit, the officers were unaware of an approaching Southbound Metra train, No. 119, which had left the Millennium Station at 5:58 pm. Unaware that the Southbound train was bearing down on them the officers most likely contributed the sound from it to the passing northbound train. Shortly after the northbound train passed they were struck from behind by the Southbound train. It is estimated that the train was traveling at 60-65 miles per hour at the time of the incident. Both officers died on the scene and were both transported to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, located at 2121 West Harrison Street, by CFD Ambulance #’s 5 and 60.

Brown was apprehended a short while later by other responding officers and placed into custody. Brown’s gun was also recovered near the scene where the officers were struck. On December 19, 2018, Brown was charged with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Reckless Discharge of a Firearm – Endangerment.

Officer Gary was waked at Blake Lamb Funeral Home located at 4727 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois. His funeral mass was held at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel located at 7740 South Western Avenue. He was laid to rest on December 21, 2018 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 West 111th Street, Alsip, Illinois.

Police Officer Conrad Charles Gary, born August 21, 1987, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on March 16, 2017 and he attended the Jackson Street Police Academy. He earned 1 Special Honorable Mention (posthumously), 1 Military Service Award and 3 Honorable Mentions during his career.

Officer Gary served in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Force Officer from 2010 to 2015 and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant. During his military service he earned the Air Force Achievement Medal Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with ‘N ‘ Deuce, Overseas Ribbon Long, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, Air Force Longevity Service, USAF NCO PME Graduate, Training Honor Graduate and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with I Service Star. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. Officer Gary was survived by his wife, Kelly (nee Kubil); daughter, Tess aged 6 months; parents: Michael, Sr. and Kimberly and siblings: David and Michael, Jr.

Incident Recorded Under Chicago Police Department RD #JB557558.

On August 13, 2019, Officer Gary’s star was retired by Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.