Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy William Pottow and Deputy Leonard Hurwitz were killed in an automobile accident at the intersection of Touhy Avenue and Harlem Avenue, in Niles.
The deputies were attempting to stop a car for speeding on Touhy Avenue when their patrol car was struck by a third car. Deputy Pottow died at the scene while Deputy Hurwitz succumbed to his injuries three days later.
Deputy Pottow was survived by his wife, four children, and parents.
Survivors
Deputy Pottow was survived by his wife, four children, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-4BEAA2C7- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Pottow served with the Cook County Highway Police.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Pottow.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William J. Pottow, Jr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Cook County Highway Police, 11 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 84.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Pottow, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William J. Pottow, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Pottow, Jr. is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Cook County Highway Police are honored on badge.nw.
