Roll of Honor
John P. McAuliffe
Incident
Investigative Aide John McAuliffe and Investigative Aide Benedetto Spizzirri were shot and killed in Chicago, Illinois, after arresting three men who had stolen two bags of mail from the Chicago Post Office loading dock. The two aides had been conducting a stakeout of the post office as the result of a recent rash of thefts. After observing the theft of the two bags of mail, the aides stopped the suspect's vehicle at the corner of Clark Street and Roosevelt Road and took the men into custody at gunpoint. After searching the three men they were placed in the back of the government vehicle. One of the aides then attempted to move the suspect's vehicle out of the travel lane but could not get the car started. One of the three subjects offered to assist getting the car started and was allowed to assist. He reached under the dashboard, where he had hidden a gun, and slipped it into his shirt sleeve. The car was then started and moved out of the roadway. When the subject was again placed into the vehicle he drew the .32-caliber pistol and shot both aides in the back of the head, killing them both as they sat in the front of the vehicle. The three suspects fled but were later apprehended as the result of a joint task force setup to locate them. The suspect identified as the gunman, 37, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On February 27, 1968, his sentence was commuted to two concurrent terms of 120 years each. The two accomplices, 32 and 36, were sentenced to 199 years in prison. Investigative Aide McAuliffe had served with the United States Postal Inspection Service for eight years and was a Korean War veteran and the recipient of a Purple Heart.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-DA10F184- 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 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.
Investigative Aide McAuliffe gave the United States Postal Inspection Service 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John P. McAuliffe served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Investigative Aide John P. McAuliffe is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Postal Inspection Service, 6 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John P. McAuliffe's cause is highlighted.
How John P. McAuliffe Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John P. McAuliffe is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John P. McAuliffe was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from United States Postal Inspection Service are honored on badge.nw.
