James Cooley

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch April 4, 1927

Age 45

Badge 792

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Patrolman James Cooley succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on January 23rd, 1927, after he was approached by two victims who informed him they had just been robbed. Patrolman Cooley located the suspect at the intersection of 29th Street and Prairie Avenue. The man drew a gun and fired killing Patrolman Cooley. The 43-year-old suspect was tried for murder and acquitted after witnesses to the murder were discredited at his trial.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-1D9AC7BE
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Cooley served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cooley.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

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

Service Record

End of Watch April 4, 1927

Age 45

Badge Number 792

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Acquitted

Patrolman James Cooley 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.

Chicago Police Department

396

of 571 officers

69.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious