Matthew J. Foley
Agency patch
Park Policeman

Matthew J. Foley

Accident
End of Watch September 12, 1918
Badge 170
The Vigil Panel 34 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Park Policeman Matthew Foley was killed in a motorcycle crash while chasing a speeding vehicle in Jackson Park. He was taken to the Illinois Central Hospital where he died later that day as a result of his injuries.

Survivors

Policeman Foley was survived by his sister and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-FAE8EF06
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.
Park Policeman Foley served with the South Park District Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Policeman Foley.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch September 12, 1918
Badge Number 170
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile
Offender Not available

Park Policeman Matthew J. Foley is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At South Park District Police Department, 8 of 10 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

South Park District Police Department
8
of 10 officers
80% Accident
IL — Statewide
354
of 1,318 officers
26.9% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Matthew J. Foley'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 Matthew J. Foley Compares

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Matthew J. Foley is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location