Herman J. Malow, Jr.

Oak Park Police Department — Oak Park, IL

Felonious

End of Watch June 14, 1916

Age 29

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Badge 139

The Vigil Panel 31 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Police Officer Herman Malow was shot and killed when he was approaching a disturbance between the occupants of two parked cars. Officer Malow and another officer observed the disturbance on Washington Boulevard just west of Cuyler Street. As they approached, Officer Malow was shot below the heart and thrown from his motorcycle, never having drawn his service revolver. The other officer chased one of the vehicles south on Ridgeland Avenue and east on Madison Street while engaged in a running gunbattle. At Madison Street and Parkside Avenue, the pursuing officer was shot, lost control of his motorcycle, and crashed. Although critically wounded, he survived. Both suspect cars were found to be stolen. Following an intensive investigation and manhunt by Oak Park Police Department and Chicago Police Department, four suspects were arrested. One suspect served three years in prison for the murder and an additional year for escape before dying in 1932. The suspect identified as the gunman in both shootings was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On December 6, 1918, he was executed by hanging at the Cook County Jail. Officer Malow had served with the Oak Park Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife and 2-week-old daughter. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 2-week-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-9F1D3510
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Herman. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

You barely got started.
Police Officer Malow gave the Oak Park Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Oak Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Malow.

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

Agency

Department Oak Park Police Department

Location Oak Park, IL

Platform Identity oakppd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 14, 1916

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 29

Badge Number 139

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1918

Police Officer Herman J. Malow, Jr. 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 Oak Park Police Department, 3 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Oak Park Police Department

of 7 officers

42.9% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious