Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Miles Cunningham was shot and killed while investigating a car crash shortly after 12:15 am. Patrolman Cunningham and his partner were starting their beats and were standing at the southwest corner of S. Halsted Street and W. Adams Street when they observed the crash. Both officers ran toward a Hudson that had just collided with a Ford coupe at the intersection. Unknown to the two officers, the occupants of the Hudson had just robbed two Federal Reserve messengers moments before. Patrolman Cunningham approached the Hudson as his partner approached the Ford. As the occupants of the Hudson exited their vehicle, one of them opened fire on Patrolman Cunningham, killing him instantly. The man who fired the shots was a member of the Barker-Karpis Gang. The other occupants were additional gang members, including the two leaders. They carjacked another vehicle and fled. Patrolman Cunningham was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 26th District. Survivors include his wife and two children. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-19E269A9- 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 Cunningham gave the Chicago Police Department 9 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
Miles Cunningham served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Miles Cunningham 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Miles Cunningham's cause is highlighted.
How Miles Cunningham Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Miles Cunningham is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Miles Cunningham was killed by rifle; machine gun.
Incident Location
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