Frank J. McGurk
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

Frank J. McGurk

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch August 3, 1920
Badge 557
The Vigil Panel 39 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant Frank McGurk was shot and killed when he attempted to stop three armed suspects from robbing a business. Sergeant McGurk was assigned to guard a factory payroll. As the payroll was distributed, three masked armed robbers entered. When Sergeant McGurk confronted the offenders, the gunmen fired. Although fatally wounded, the sergeant was able to return fire and cause the gunmen to flee without the payroll. One of the suspects was apprehended three weeks later in Chicago as he and two others attempted to rob a stockyard packer. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Another, a 17-year-old soldier was apprehended two months later in Fort Omaha, Nebraska. He confessed he was the killer and was sentenced to life. He died in prison on October 16, 1924.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-0541E9A9
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant McGurk served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant McGurk.

— 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 August 3, 1920
Badge Number 557
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective Sergeant Frank J. McGurk is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department
396
of 571 officers
69.4% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank J. McGurk's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Frank J. McGurk Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank J. McGurk is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank J. McGurk was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909