Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 20 years, 6 months, 25 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 16 - Maxwell

District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 49

Timeline


Date of Birth: 27 Apr 1878

Date of Appointment: 09 Mar 1907

Date of Incident: 012 - Near West

End of Watch: 04 Oct 1927

Date of Interment: 07 Oct 1927

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Mount Carmel Cemetery - Hillside, Illinois
 Grave Location: Grave 2, Lot N2, Block 8, Section C
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-11

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 2

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 21

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2-W: 19

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Sergeant Patrick Francis Delaney, Star #417, aged 49 years, was a 20 year, 6 month, 25 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 16 – Maxwell.

On October 4, 1927, at 1:00 a.m., Sergeant Delaney observed three suspicious men, Shelby Brown, Arthur Lucus, age 24, of 1308 West 14th Street and Willie Richardson, in front of a building located at 1337 Hastings Street. As Sergeant Delaney was questioning the other men, his focus the two, Lucas drew a revolver and fired. The men then fled on foot while Sergeant Delaney returned fire emptying his revolver at their backs. Sergeant Delaney then staggered to a nearby call box and contacted the operator at the Maxwell Street station. While reporting in, he collapsed before he could finish. A patrol wagon was immediately dispatched to his location and upon arrival found the Sergeant unconscious at the base of the call box. Sergeant Delaney was transported to Cook County Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:30 a.m. on October 4, 1927.

Shelby Brown was later arrested and during questioning, buckled under the pressure, and gave up Lucas’ location. According to Brown, Lucas was hiding out in a barn at the rear of his home. Police went to the location and apprehended him. In the end all of the offenders were eventually arrested including a fourth as an accomplice. On October 11, 1927, Brown, Lucus and Willie Richardson were held by the Coroner for murder and Miss Sidney Norment as an accessory. On March 12, 1928, Lucas entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 14 years in the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet by Judge Comerford. On April 12, 1928 the cases against Brown, Richardson and Sidney were stricken off the record.

Sergeant Delaney was laid to rest on October 7, 1927 in Mount Carmel Cemetery, 1400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 2, Lot N2, Block 8, Section C.

Sergeant Patrick Francis Delaney, born April 27, 1878, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on March 9, 1907 and was issued Star #2980. On February 19, 1915, he was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant and issued Star # Unknown. On June 28, 1921, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and issued Star #417.

Sergeant Delaney was survived by his wife, Annie (nee Lonergan); children: Imelda L., Joseph P., Loretto, Vincent A. and William V.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #7952.