Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Henry and Patrolman James Carroll were shot and killed while inside a saloon at 5253 South Halstead Street during their tour of duty watching a nearby residence. Both officers had been detailed there in hopes to arrest a subject wanted for the murder of Special Agent Edwin Shannan of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that occurred on October 11th, 1925. They were watching a house near the saloon where the suspect's girlfriend lived. In was learned from a tip, the suspect was on the way there. While inside the saloon three armed robbers entered through a backdoor and immediately opened fire and exchanged gunshots with both officers, striking Patrolman Carroll in the head killing him. Patrolman Henry was struck in the abdomen and died four days later. A taxi driver was killed and a patron was seriously wounded before the three fled. An investigation revealed that one of the three robbers was the suspect that Patrolmen Henry and Carroll were waiting for. He was Martin Durkin one of Chicago's most dangerous criminals. During several crimes he committed he had shot and wounded three Chicago police officers. On November 2, 1925, he and a lady friend were responsible for the murder of Sergeant Harry Gray. On January 20, 1926, Durkin was apprehended by FBI agents at a train station in St. louis. Two witnesses that saw the three gunman were shown Durkin at the Cook County Jail. They said he was not one of the robbers. The three were never identified or apprehended. Patrolman Henry was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWI and had served with the Chicago Police Department for four years.
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BO-US-IL-8B4D9A68- Stewardship
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- 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.
Patrolman Henry gave the Chicago Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago 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
James Aloysius Henry served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman James Aloysius Henry 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. James Aloysius Henry's cause is highlighted.
How James Aloysius Henry Compares
Offender Outcome
At large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Aloysius Henry is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Aloysius Henry was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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