Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 40 years, 1 month, 30 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 25th District - Fillmore

District of Incident (Present Day): 011 - Harrison

Cause of Death: Struck - By Vehicle

Age at Time of Death: 63

Timeline


Date of Birth: 04 Nov 1867

Date of Appointment: 04 Apr 1891

Date of Incident: 011 - Harrison

End of Watch: 03 Jun 1931

Date of Interment: 05 Jun 1931

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery - Evanston, Illinois
 Grave Location: Lot SS3, Block 7, Section M
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 19

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 30

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 17-W: 14

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Sergeant John Cronin, Star #879, aged 63 years, was a 40 year, 1 month, 30 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 25th District – Fillmore.

On June 3, 1931, at 2:10 a.m., Sergeant Cronin was investigating damage done to a police vehicle parked on Crawford Avenue (present day Pulaski Road), 25 feet south of Fillmore Street, alongside of the Fillmore Street police station. The sergeant was accidentally struck by a passing vehicle as he stood on the street inspecting the car. The car was driven by Leo Goldstein, an auto salesman, of 4926 West Adams Street. Sergeant Cronin was transported to Garfield Park Hospital where he was pronounced dead two hours later on June 3, 1931.

Sergeant Cronin was waked at his residence located at 4926 West Adams Street. His funeral mass was held in Requiem at Resurrection Church located at 5150 West Jackson Boulevard. He was laid to rest on June 5, 1931 in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot SS3, Block 7, Section M.

Sergeant John Cronin, born November 4, 1867, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on April 4, 1891 and was issued Star #2292. On March 14, 1898, he was given a Civil Service promotion. On November 8, 1913, he was promoted to the rank of 2nd Class Detective Sergeant, his title becoming effective on November 10, 1913 and being officially changed by order of the city council on January 11, 1915. On April 1, 1914, he was issued a Detective Sergeant Star # Unknown. Prior to April 1, 1914, Detective Sergeants maintained their Patrolman star number. On June 28, 1921, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and issued Star #915. On August 31, 1928, he was issued Sergeant Star #879 after reporting his previous star lost. He earned 4 Credible Mentions during his career.

Sergeant Cronin was survived by his wife, Mary; children: Catherine, John, and Thomas; grandchildren and siblings: Ann L. Michael and Mrs. J. J. McAuliffe.