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Patrolman

John Joseph Walsh

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Illness
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch October 20, 1918
Age 58
Tour of Duty 11 yrs 2 mo
The Vigil Panel 35 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Patrolman John Walsh died as a result of complications from influenza while performing his assigned duties during the Influenza Pandemic.

Patrolman Walsh served with the Chicago Police Department for more than 11 years and was assigned to the 29th Police Precinct, located at 2128 North Halsted Street.

Effects of the 1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic on Law Enforcement

Also known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1919 infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1919. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job.

The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen.

Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza Memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Walsh gave the Chicago Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Walsh.

— 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 October 20, 1918
Tour of Duty 11 yrs 2 mo
Age 58
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

John is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1918, 226 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 58. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. John had served 11.2 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

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

When

October holds 14.9% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 14.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John Joseph Walsh

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch October 20, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-ET

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