Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Melvin Cohen

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch December 7, 1971

Age 38

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Melvin Cohen was killed after his three-wheel motorcycle struck an elevated railroad track pillar in front of 4702 West Lake Street while he was pursuing a speeding motorist. During the chase, Patrolman Cohen braked to avoid traffic and struck the pillar. The motorist being pursued was never located. Patrolman Cohen was a veteran of the Illinois National Guard. He had served with the Chicago Police Department for 16 years and was assigned to Traffic Area 5.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, one daughter, one son, his mother and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-153CEB77
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 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.
Patrolman Cohen gave the Chicago Police Department 16 years.
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

Department Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Chicago, Cook County, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 7, 1971

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Melvin Cohen served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Melvin Cohen is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 26.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Chicago Police Department, 107 of 571 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 18.7% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department

107

of 571 officers

18.7% Accident

IL — Statewide

354

of 1,318 officers

26.9% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Accident