Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Richard Cummings succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when was run over while guarding wagons of Montgomery and Ward Company, on Washington Street, near Dearborne Street . Sergeant Cummings commanded a large group of officers assigned to an area experiencing serious labor problems. Verbal conflict flared between striker breakers and strike sympathizers. A horse-drawn wagon driver disobeyed police orders and attempted to force his vehicle into a heavily congested area. The side of the wagon struck Sergeant Cummings, throwing him to the ground. The sergeant died as a result of the injuries he sustained. Sergeant Cummings died in Alexian Bros. Hospital on May 1, 1905. The horse driver was arrested and held by Coroner's Jury May 10. He was acquitted by jury in Judge Kavanagh's court, Oct. 23, 1906. Sergeant Cummings served with the Chicago Police Department for 15 and a half years and was assigned to the 42nd Police Precinct.
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BO-US-IL-9B8B287E- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Cummings gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Cummings.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Richard F. Cummings 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard F. Cummings's cause is highlighted.
How Richard F. Cummings Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Richard F. Cummings is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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