John L. Donner
Agency patch
Park Policeman

John L. Donner

Accident
End of Watch May 7, 1917
Age 41
Badge 125
The Vigil Panel 32 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Park Policeman John L. Donner was killed in a motorcycle crash while pursuing a motorist on Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park. His motorcycle collided with another car the intersection with Sunnyside Avenue.

Survivors

Policeman Donner was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-4E8DE57C
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.
Park Policeman Donner served with the Lincoln Park District Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Policeman Donner.

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

Agency

Location Chicago, IL
Platform Identity lpdpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 7, 1917
Age 41
Badge Number 125
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile
Offender Not available

Park Policeman John L. Donner 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 Lincoln Park District Police Department, 5 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lincoln Park District Police Department
5
of 5 officers
100% Accident
IL — Statewide
354
of 1,318 officers
26.9% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John L. Donner's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John L. Donner Compares

Age at End of Watch
41
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Donner is highlighted in May.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location