Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Michael Sheehan succumbed to wounds received five days earlier during the Haymarket Square riot. Officer Michael Sheehan arrived with several other officers to disperse a protest meeting near Haymarket Square. On May 4, 1886, a bomb was thrown at the officers from an alley. The explosion was followed by an intense gun battle. Officer Sheehan sustained two serious gunshot wounds. He died five days later. Officer Sheehan was the fifth of eight officers to die the historic Haymarket Tragedy. Eight men were arrested and charged with murder. Seven were sentenced to death and the other one got 15 years. On November 11, 1887, four were executed by hanging. The day before one killed himself by exploding a dynamite cap in his mouth. The other three were pardoned by Governor Altgeld in 1893. Officer Sheehan served with the Chicago Police Department for 18 months. He was survived by his parents and brother. Eight police officers were killed during the Haymarket Riot labor dispute. The officers were at the scene of a civil disorder when the rioters opened fire and threw a bomb into the crowd. Eight police officers suffered fatal wounds and 70 other people were injured by the gunfire and explosion. The officers who were killed included Patrolman Mathias Degan, Patrolman John Barrett, Patrolman George Miller, Patrolman Timothy Flavin, Patrolman Thomas Redden, Patrolman Nels Hansen and Patrolman Michael Sheehan. Patrolman Timothy Sullivan succumbed to his wounds two years later, on June 13, 1888.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-IL-5F7A6425- 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
140 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Sheehan gave the Chicago Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Michael Sheehan 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. Michael Sheehan's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Sheehan Compares
Offender Outcome
Four executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Sheehan is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Sheehan was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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