Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer James E. Doyle was shot to death aboard a South Side CTA bus. The shooting occurred after Officer Doyle and his partner were approached by an individual who stated he had been robbed and that the suspect was now on a nearby bus at 79th Street and Lafayette Avenue. The officers boarded the bus and were in the process of removing the suspect for questioning when he shot Officer Doyle in the head. The man turned and fired at the second officer but missed. The second officer returned fire, striking the assailant and preventing his escape. The killer was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On January 10th, 2003, the governor at the time, George Ryan, commuted his sentence, along with those of all 164 other inmates on death row, to life in prison. Officer James Doyle was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother, sister, nephew, and fiancé.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-9E8EFE74- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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.
Police Officer Doyle gave the Chicago Police Department 1 year.
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James E. Doyle served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer James E. Doyle is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James E. Doyle's cause is highlighted.
How James E. Doyle Compares
Offender Outcome
Death sentence commuted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James E. Doyle is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James E. Doyle was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
