Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Boss was killed while chasing a speeding taxicab. Officer Boss and his partner chased a fleeing taxicab west on Madison Street from Lombard Avenue in excess of 50 mph. At Wisconsin Avenue, the cab quickly turned southbound. His partner, who was ahead, braked as he passed Wisconsin Avenue and began to turn around. Unable to stop, Officer Boss struck his partner's motorcycle and both men were thrown to the ground, unconscious. Officer Boss' motorcycle reportedly rolled several times and he was struck in the forehead by the handlebars. He died of his injuries 28 hours later. Officer Boss had served for several years on the police department before volunteering for military duty in WWI. Upon his return to Oak Park, on the recommendation of the chief and his staff, he was reappointed to the police department. Officer Boss was survived by a sister and three brothers. He was buried in Arlington Cemetery in Elmhurst.
Survivors
Officer Boss was survived by a sister and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-825BC018- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Boss gave the Oak Park Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oak Park community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John J. Boss served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer John J. Boss 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 Oak Park Police Department, 4 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Boss's cause is highlighted.
How John J. Boss Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Boss is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Oak Park Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
