Lyons Kelliher
Agency patch
Detective

Lyons Kelliher

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch January 25, 1956
Age 52
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 6695
The Vigil Panel 91 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Lyons Kelliher was shot and killed by a 17-year-old AWOL soldier in a night club at 2801 W. Warren Avenue. He and his partner were making a routine investigation to check reports that the club was a hangout for narcotics addicts. As they were questioning the suspect he drew out a pistol and shot Detective Kelliher twice in the chest. The subject then shot Detective Kelliher's partner in the right hand and in the right foot preventing him from returning fire. The subject was later captured running through a park. Both detectives were rushed to Illinois Research Hospital where Detective Kelliher succumbed to his wounds. The subject was convicted of Detective Kelliher's murder and sentenced to 199 years in prison. Detective Kelliher was the son of retired Captain Patrick Kelliher.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtn1ez96tp6xnbx6kf907
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Lyons. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Kelliher gave the Chicago Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Kelliher.

— 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 January 25, 1956
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 52
Badge Number 6695
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Lyons is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1956, 47 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 141st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Lyons was 52. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Lyons 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

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Lyons Kelliher

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch January 25, 1956

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-W

↑