Robert McCarthy
Agency patch
Policeman

Robert McCarthy

Cook County Highway Police — Chicago, IL
Accident
End of Watch August 24, 1931
Age 33
The Vigil Panel 62 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Red McCarthy was killed in a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Graceland Avenue and Rand Road in Des Plaines at approximately 2:00 am

He and another officer were on patrol when a vehicle turned left in front of them, causing a collision. Policeman McCarthy succumbed to his injuries while being transported to Des Plaines Emergency Hospital.

The driver of the car that caused the collision was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-3D4874C4
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.
Policeman McCarthy served with the Cook County Highway Police.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman McCarthy.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cchpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 24, 1931
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Policeman Robert McCarthy 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 Cook County Highway Police, 11 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 84.6% of this agency's fallen.

Cook County Highway Police
11
of 13 officers
84.6% Accident
IL — Statewide
354
of 1,318 officers
26.9% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert McCarthy's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Robert McCarthy Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Robert McCarthy is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location