Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Rowe was shot and killed in a gun battle with armed offenders on Wood Street. Patrolman Rowe attempted to apprehend a gang of armed offenders robbing ticket agents in elevated train stations. During their crime spree, they had killed one agent and wounded three other citizens. Patrolman Rowe assisted fellow officers engaged in a running gun battle with the offenders. When Patrolman Rowe attempted to stop the gunmen, he and a ticket agent were shot. Patrolman Rowe and the ticket agent died of the injuries they sustained. Four suspects were eventually apprehended. One was convicted of both murders and sentenced to life in prison, one was acquitted, and the other two were given concurrent sentences with other prison terms they were serving. One of those two suspects, age 19, convicted of manslaughter, was released in 1917, but went back to prison a few months later after being convicted of armed robbery. He was released again in February of 1932. On May 9, 1932, he was shot and killed by the owner of a Chicago florist when he and three others tried to rob his establishment. The 24-year-old suspect sentenced to life escaped from prison in 1918. He and others he escaped with were responsible for several bank robberies until he was captured and sent back to prison in 1921. On March 27, 1935, he died in prison from a heart attack. Patrolman Rowe had served with the agency for 30 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-A942F8BE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
30 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Rowe gave the Chicago Police Department 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Rowe.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Rowe 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 97,756 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Rowe's cause is highlighted.
How John Rowe Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Rowe is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Rowe was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
