Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Barrett succumbed to wounds sustained in a bomb blast two days earlier. Patrolman Barrett was one of the many officer assigned to disperse a protest meeting near Haymarket Square on May 4th, 1886. A deadly bomb explosion, followed by an intense gun battle, ensued. Patrolman Barrett sustained serious injuries. He died two days later from the injuries he received. Eight men were arrested and charged with the officers murders. Seven were convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The other one was sentenced to 15 years. On November 11, 1887, four of them were executed by hanging. The day before one of the suspects killed himself in his cell with a smuggled dynamite cap which he detonated in his mouth. The other three were pardoned by Governor Altgeld in 1893. Patrolman Barrett served with the Chicago Police Department for 15 months and was assigned to the 3rd Precinct. He was survived by his wife, mother, brother and three sisters. Eight police officers were killed during the Haymarket Riot labor dispute. The officers were at the scene of a civil disorder when the rioters opened fire and threw a bomb into the crowd. Eight police officers suffered fatal wounds and 70 other people were injured by the gunfire and explosion. The officers who were killed included Patrolman Mathias Degan, Patrolman John Barrett, Patrolman George Miller, Patrolman Timothy Flavin, Patrolman Thomas Redden, Patrolman Nels Hansen and Patrolman Michael Sheehan. Patrolman Timothy Sullivan succumbed to his wounds two years later, on June 13, 1888.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother, brother and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-IL-2451339C- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
140 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Barrett gave the Chicago Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John J. Barrett 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. John J. Barrett's cause is highlighted.
How John J. Barrett Compares
Offender Outcome
Four executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Barrett is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John J. Barrett was killed by explosives; bomb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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