Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John W. Simpson was shot and killed at the 31st Street Station during a race riot. 25 rioters were killed and 326 were injured over a 13 day period. This was the worst race riot out of 25 that occurred in the U.S. in 1919. Other riots occurred in Millen, Georgia, Washington D.C., Knoxville, Tennessee, Longview, Texas, Phillips County, Arkansas, Omaha, Nebraska, and most dramatically in Chicago. They became known as the "Red Summer Riots". Patrolman Simpson was assigned to the 3rd Precinct and is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-3B73FD48- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Simpson served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Simpson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John W. Simpson is one of 17,620 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.1% of all 32,584 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 9.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.1%.
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 W. Simpson's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Simpson Compares
Offender Outcome
Unknown
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Simpson is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Simpson was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
