Jeremiah E. O'Connell
Agency patch
Patrolman

Jeremiah E. O'Connell

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch July 30, 1928
Age 38
Badge 1977
The Vigil Panel 55 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Jeremiah E. O'Connell was fatally shot at 12:05 am near the intersection of 34th Street and LaSalle Street while attempting to arrest a subject who had just robbed and fatally wounded a citizen. The man also wounded another officer before he himself was wounded and captured. He was held to the grand jury by a coroner's jury on two charges of murder and indicted. On March 20th, 1929, he was sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on April 11th, 1929. Patrolman O'Connell was assigned to the 8th District and attached to the Detective Bureau, Squad 3-C.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-F767B303
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman O'Connell served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Connell.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Chicago, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 30, 1928
Age 38
Badge Number 1977
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Executed in 1929

Patrolman Jeremiah E. O'Connell 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.

Chicago Police Department
396
of 571 officers
69.4% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jeremiah E. O'Connell's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Jeremiah E. O'Connell Compares

Age at End of Watch
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1929

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jeremiah E. O'Connell is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jeremiah E. O'Connell was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location