Patrick J. O'Neill
Agency patch
Detective Patrolman

Patrick J. O'Neill

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch March 23, 1921
Age 45
Tour of Duty 14 yrs 4 mo
Badge 2963
The Vigil Panel 40 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Patrick J. O'Neill was shot and killed at 10:00 pm in the rear of 6415 Washtenaw Avenue as he and several other police officers attempted to make an arrest. When Patrolman O'Neill and fellow officers surrounded the building, the gunman ran out the rear door and opened fire. Patrolman O'Neill suffered multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries at 11:30 pm the same day. The brother-in-law and sister of the killer were arrested and, on April 22, 1921, indicted on the charge of accessory to murder. On July 30, 1921, the killer was arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota. On September 28, 1921, the case against the killers. The brother-in-law and sister were nolle prossed (dismissed.) On October 14, 1921, Officer O'Neill's killer was sentenced to hang on December 15, 1921. He escaped from the County Jail on December 11, 1921. He was never recaptured; It was reported that he died in 1951. In 1927 the suspect was responsible for planning a robbery of a pharmacy in Detroit, Michigan. A gunfight resulted in the deaths of the two suspects and Officer Stacey C. Mizner of the Detroit Police Department. Patrolman O'Neill had served with the Chicago Police Department for over 14 years assigned to the Detective Bureau.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-94600E03
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 Patrolman O'Neill gave the Chicago Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Patrolman O'Neill.

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

Agency

Location Chicago, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 23, 1921
Tour of Duty 14 yrs 4 mo
Age 45
Badge Number 2963
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Escaped from prison

Detective Patrolman Patrick J. O'Neill 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.

Chicago Police Department
396
of 571 officers
69.4% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Patrick J. O'Neill's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Patrick J. O'Neill Compares

Age at End of Watch
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
14.3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Escaped from prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick J. O'Neill is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick J. O'Neill was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location