Cornelius Albert Cominskey

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Illness

End of Watch October 10, 1918

Age 33

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 35 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Cornelius Cominskey died as a result of complications from influenza while performing his assigned duties during the Influenza Pandemic.

Patrolman Cominskey served with the Chicago Police Department for five and a half years and was assigned to the 30th Police Precinct, located at 2742 North Sheffield Avenue.

Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law EnforcementAlso known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job. The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen. Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.

Also known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job.

The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen.

Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.

Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law Enforcement

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-5F55C12C
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.
Patrolman Cominskey gave the Chicago Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cominskey.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 10, 1918

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 5 mo

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Patrolman Cornelius Albert Cominskey is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IL, 66 of 1,318 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 5% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Chicago Police Department, 46 of 571 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 8.1% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department

of 571 officers

8.1% Illness

IL — Statewide

of 1,318 officers

5% Illness

Nationwide

2,974

of 32,508 officers

9.1% Illness