Death Classification: Performance of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 24 years, 1 month, 25 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: Bureau of Field Services - Youth Division: Unit 073 - Area 3 Youth

District of Incident (Present Day): 007 - Englewood

Cause of Death: Illness - Cardiac Arrest

Age at Time of Death: 54

Timeline


Date of Birth: 10 Mar 1915

Date of Appointment: 25 Oct 1945

Date of Incident: 007 - Englewood

End of Watch: 19 Dec 1969

Date of Interment: 22 Dec 1915

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: St. Mary Catholic Cemetery - Evergreen Park, Illinois
 Grave Location: Lot W 1/2 319, Block --, Section Q
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 2

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Youth Officer John Thomas Lynch, Star #8005, aged 54 years, was a 24 year, 1 month, 25 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Field Services – Youth Division: Unit 073 – Area 3 Youth.

On December 19, 1969, Officer Lynch and his partner, Youth Officer Frank Dabrowski, stopped their patrol car near 55th and Halsted when a man flagged them down for assistance. The man pointed out three teenagers who had been harassing him. The teens fled as the officers approached and Lynch and Dabrowski gave chase. Officer Lynch collapsed during the foot pursuit and fell to the sidewalk. He was rushed to Evangelical Hospital where he was pronounced dead from a fatal heart attack.

Officer Lynch was waked at the Sheehy Funeral Home located at 8243 South Ashland Avenue. His funeral mass was held at St. Ethelreda Parish Church located at 8754 South Paulina Street. He was laid to rest on December 22, 1915 in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, 3801 West 87th Street, Evergreen Park, Illinois. His grave is located in Lot W 1/2 319, Block –, Section Q.

Youth Officer John Thomas Lynch, born March 10, 1915, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on October 25, 1945.

Officer Lynch was a member of the Chicago Police Post No. 207 American Legion, Illinois Police Association, Calumet Council No. 632 Knights of Columbus and the St. Jude Police League. He was survived by his wife, Mary Flynn; children: Bernard, Madonna O’Neill and Marguerite Ann; mother, Elizabeth Lynch (nee Mullaney); sister, Dolores Fouse and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Michael.