Roll of Honor
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
- 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.
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Melvin Cohen served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Melvin Cohen 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 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melvin Cohen's cause is highlighted.
How Melvin Cohen Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin Cohen is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
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