Incident
Patrolman Martin C. McCaw was accidentally shot and killed when his partner tripped and his service revolver discharged. The two officers chased two gunmen into a vacant lot at 653 Blue Island Avenue. Patrolman McCaw had just captured one of the men when his partner tripped and discharged the revolver. The round struck Patrolman McCaw in the head. He was transported to Mother Cabrini Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Both men fled the scene after the shot was fired. Patrolman McCaw had received a citizen award months earlier for rescuing five people from a burning apartment building in January. He was assigned to District 12 and was a seven-year veteran of the department.
Survivors
He is survived by his five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-QNCS-D59W-1earlier record number BO-US-IL-3CE5B041- 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 Martin. 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.
Patrolman McCaw gave the Chicago Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McCaw.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Chicago Police Department has lost 571 officers; 107 of them lost to accidents.
Martin is one of 354 officers lost to accidents in IL, 26.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Martin is one of 8,274 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Martin is one of 10,099 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1942, 3 officers at Chicago Police Department were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 74 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 4.
In 1942, 4 officers in IL were lost to accidents, the 24th heaviest of 115 years on record. The heaviest was 1927, with 11.
In 1942, 65 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 65th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1942, 82 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 52nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Martin was 34. Of the 103 lost to accidents at Chicago Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32.5 and 44.5; the middle age was 38. Martin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 10 years.
Martin was 34. Of the 344 lost to accidents in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 45.3; the middle age was 37. Martin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Martin was 34. Of the 7,715 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Martin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Martin was 34. Of the 9,448 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Martin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 8.4% of these deaths at Chicago Police Department; December holds the most, 12.1%. Mondays: 20.6%.
April holds 8.5% of these deaths in IL; October holds the most, 11.3%. Mondays: 17.2%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 18.7% of all 571 deaths at Chicago Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 26.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Martin among them.
-
James Quinn Dec 5, 1853
-
Casper Lauer
Sep 18, 1854
-
John C. Churchwood Mar 25, 1864
-
Niels L. Hansen Feb 18, 1871
-
Patrick O'Meara
Aug 5, 1872
-
Christian Jacobs Aug 18, 1873
-
S. Wellington McArthur Jun 29, 1877
-
Gilbert E. Reynolds
Dec 5, 1877
-
Albert Race Oct 4, 1878
-
Timothy Mahoney Jun 12, 1881
-
Patrick M. O'Brien
Aug 3, 1881
-
Daniel Crowley Aug 4, 1881
-
John Huebner Feb 4, 1882
-
Clarence E. Wright Nov 29, 1882
-
Cornelius Barrett May 31, 1885
-
Michael W. O'Brien Nov 11, 1885
-
Mathias J. Degan
May 4, 1886
-
John J. Barrett
May 6, 1886
-
George F. Miller
May 6, 1886
-
Timothy Flavin
May 8, 1886
-
Michael Sheehan
May 9, 1886
-
Thomas Redden
May 17, 1886
-
Nels Hansen
Jun 14, 1886
-
Michael O'Brien
Apr 3, 1887
-
William S. Hallaran Jul 16, 1887
-
Philip L. Robinson Sep 5, 1887
-
John Keegan Nov 4, 1887
-
Timothy O'Sullivan
Jun 13, 1888
-
Adam W. Fryer
Aug 9, 1889
-
James McDowell
Oct 3, 1889
-
William F. Ellfeldt May 12, 1890
-
Frank Williams
Mar 27, 1891
-
George Schlinger
Oct 10, 1891
-
William H. Schnell Jan 2, 1892
-
Jasper H. Cole Feb 10, 1892
-
John Powell, Jr. Sep 6, 1892
-
Henry L. McDowell Sep 7, 1892
-
Stillman A. Danforth Jun 8, 1893
-
Edward J. Carney Dec 8, 1893
-
John J. Dempsey Jul 14, 1894
-
William Feeley Jul 31, 1894
-
Andrew Matthias Hauswirth
Sep 30, 1894
-
William Sleeth Oct 9, 1894
-
George Krum Nov 1, 1894
-
Edward Duddles
Jan 3, 1895
-
John Monahan Jan 27, 1895
-
John L. V. Blomberg Nov 7, 1895
-
Patrick Fenton
Feb 27, 1898
-
Bernard A. Kuebler
Oct 10, 1898
-
Bartholomew Cavanaugh
Dec 15, 1898
-
Edward J. Wallner Jan 5, 1899
-
John F. McDermott
Apr 11, 1900
-
Timothy S. O'Connell May 3, 1900
-
William F. Messenger
Apr 25, 1901
-
Patrick Duffy
May 1, 1902
-
Timothy T. Devine
Aug 12, 1902
-
Charles Pennell
Aug 12, 1902
-
Michael J. O'Rourke Oct 24, 1903
-
John Quinn
Nov 22, 1903
-
Joseph D. Driscoll
Dec 1, 1903
-
Dennis C. Fitzgerald Jan 20, 1904
-
Michael Shaughnessy
May 22, 1904
-
James J. Keefe
Jan 5, 1905
-
Richard F. Cummings
May 1, 1905
-
Patrick E. Blackwell May 20, 1905
-
John P. Shine
Oct 10, 1905
-
Luke John Fitzpatrick
Nov 19, 1906
-
Edward M. Smith
Aug 5, 1907
-
Robert W. McAneney
Nov 16, 1907
-
Michael D. Callahan
Jan 4, 1908
-
William Richard Mooney
Jan 4, 1908
-
Edward C. J. Hennessey
Oct 16, 1908
-
William J. Russell Jun 12, 1909
-
Henry George Schnable
Jul 1, 1909
-
John Patrick Kearney, Sr.
Jul 2, 1909
-
John Wren Mar 5, 1910
-
Patrick Melia
Apr 27, 1910
-
Edward G. Shea Aug 16, 1910
-
Jesse C. Gilman
Dec 24, 1910
-
Thomas E. Tighe
Mar 11, 1911
-
Patrick Fogarty
Jul 2, 1911
-
Thomas Schweig
Jul 15, 1911
-
Michael King May 20, 1912
-
Charles T. Jones
Nov 10, 1912
-
Peter M. Hart
Jan 20, 1913
-
Andrew Gartley Jun 1, 1914
-
Stanley J. Birns
Jul 16, 1914
-
John Rowe
Aug 6, 1914
-
George H. Trumbull Aug 17, 1914
-
John J. Prendergast Aug 30, 1914
-
Frank Dealy
Oct 5, 1914
-
William J. Rosenstreter
Nov 6, 1914
-
Austin L. Fitch
Nov 24, 1914
-
John B. Sausman
Jan 5, 1915
-
James F. Mitchell
Nov 15, 1915
-
John C. Burke
Dec 16, 1915
-
Bror A. Johnson
Jan 21, 1916
-
Stuart N. Dean
Jul 18, 1916
-
John L. Bialk
Sep 21, 1916
-
Gilbert F. Coyne Oct 5, 1916
-
John Francis Kenny
Nov 23, 1916
-
Bruno H. Frederick
Dec 6, 1916
-
Edward J. Mulvihill
Dec 18, 1916
-
Charles C. Larsen
May 13, 1917
-
Peter R. Bulfin
Jul 13, 1917
-
Martin J. Corcoran
Aug 13, 1917
-
Joseph P. Tiernan Aug 24, 1917
-
Joseph A. O'Connor Nov 4, 1917
-
Joseph H. Urban Dec 6, 1917
-
Michael J. McGough
Dec 7, 1917
-
George Clausen
Apr 13, 1918
-
James F. Looney
May 1, 1918
-
Peter H. Ostiller
Jun 12, 1918
-
Glenn Tenbrook Whallon Sep 30, 1918
-
Rudolph John Tuerk
Oct 1, 1918
-
Edward James Madden Oct 3, 1918
-
Walter John Bermingham Oct 3, 1918
-
Andrew Joseph Sullivan Oct 8, 1918
-
Cornelius Albert Cominskey Oct 10, 1918
-
Daniel Coughlin Oct 17, 1918
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















