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Patrolman

David F. Keating

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 20, 1949

Age 34

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 2259

The Vigil Panel 190 · Column 1 · Line 19 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 570

Incident

Patrolman David F. Keating was shot and killed when he stopped two juveniles carrying a suspicious package at the intersection of W. Root Steet and S. La Salle Street. As Patrolman Keating went to investigate, one of the boys pulled a revolver from the package and shot him nine times. Both boys, ages 16 and 17, turned themselves over to the police several hours later and were charged with murder. The 17-year-old was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. It was determined that he was the one who shot Patrolman Keating. On April 18th, 1951, his sentence was commuted to 199 years. The murder charge against the other suspect was dropped. Patrolman Keating was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and served with the Chicago Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. David is one person.

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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 Keating gave the Chicago Police Department 10 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

Department Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Chicago, Cook County, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 20, 1949

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 2259

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

David F. Keating served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

David 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1949, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

David was 34. 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. David had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded