Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Joseph J. Sullivan was shot to death in a hand-to-hand battle in the notorious Red Bolton Saloon at 1610 Polk Street. The manager of the establishment was being sought for the murder as well as others after police received an anonymous phone tip regarding the murder of Patrolman Raymond Martin. Another suspected killer surrendered, and police learned that Patrolman Sullivan had been in the saloon only a short time before he was slain. He was said to be trying to gain information related to the kidnapping in which Detective Raymond Martin was murdered on May 15th, 1929. This supported the theory that Patrolman Sullivan was killed because he found an important clue in the investigation. While the suspected killer was being questioned he bolted from the officers, jumped from a fifth-floor window at the police station, killing himself. The manager of the Red Bolton Saloon was shot and killed by police along with two other gangsters on December 27th, 1929. Another support for this contention was revealed when the Patrolman Sullivan's fiance told investigators that he had phoned her hours earlier and told her he intended to visit the saloon to search for a suspect in the kidnapping. Patrolman Sullivan was survived by his father, Sergeant Jeremiah Sullivan, also a member of the Chicago Police Department. At the time he was killed he was part of a team investigating the "Saint Valentine's Day Massacre" which was not related to this incident.
Survivors
Patrolman Sullivan was survived by his father, Sergeant Jeremiah Sullivan, also a member of the Chicago Police Department.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-16F290FB- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Patrolman Sullivan gave the Chicago Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sullivan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Joseph J. Sullivan 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph J. Sullivan's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph J. Sullivan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph J. Sullivan is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph J. Sullivan was killed by gun.
Incident Location
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