Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer William O'Malley was shot and killed by a man who had just shot a high school girl walking home from her prom with her friends. The suspect and two other men made unwanted advances toward the girl. When she refused to have anything to do with them, the suspect shot her in the hip. Officer O'Malley and his partner, only a block away, heard the shot and intercepted the three as they ran to the scene. In an exchange of gunfire with the suspect Officer O'Malley was killed. His partner shot and killed the suspect. The suspect's two companions escaped.
Survivors
Officer O'Malley was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-3E4FAA91- 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.
Probationary Patrolman O'Malley served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Probationary Patrolman O'Malley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Probationary Patrolman William J. O'Malley 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. William J. O'Malley's cause is highlighted.
How William J. O'Malley Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. O'Malley is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. O'Malley was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
