Ellwood S. Egan, Sr.

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Accident

End of Watch October 3, 1944

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 81 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Detective Ellwood S. Egan was accidentally shot and killed by another patrolman who mistook him for a suspect. Detective Egan and his partner observed a squad car turn into an alley behind 550 Avers Avenue. The detectives went to the location to assist the patrolmen who were unaware of the detectives' presence. The detectives observed two subjects run from a nearby garage and fired warning shots at them. The patrolmen, hearing the shots thought someone was firing at them and returned fire. One of the shots struck Detective Egan in the groin. He was transported to St. Anne's Hospital where he died. The two juvenile offenders who were seen running from the scene were arrested and charged with burglary.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-7A66994E
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.
Detective Egan served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Egan.

— 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 3, 1944

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Offender mistaken identity

Detective Ellwood S. Egan, Sr. 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 Chicago Police Department, 107 of 571 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 18.7% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department

107

of 571 officers

18.7% Accident

IL — Statewide

354

of 1,318 officers

26.9% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers