Edward F. Finegan
Agency patch
Patrolman

Edward F. Finegan

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch March 27, 1926
Age 33
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 3444
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Edward F. Finegan was shot and killed while transporting two prisoners whom he had just arrested. The men were riding in the backseat of the patrol car when one of them suddenly pulled out a revolver and shot Patrolman Finegan in the head twice. They threw his body onto the roadway at the intersection of Washtenaw Avenue and Pershing Road before fleeing. He was taken to the hospital, where he died a short time later. The 19-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and hanged at the Cook County Jail on October 29th, 1926. Patrolman Finegan was United States Army WWI veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, mother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Finegan gave the Chicago Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 27, 1926
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 33
Badge Number 3444
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Edward F. Finegan served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edward is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Edward was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Edward had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Edward among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Edward F. Finegan

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch March 27, 1926

Military Service

Edward F. Finegan served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Edward F. Finegan’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-E

Also Remembered

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