Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Casey arrested an offender who displayed a gun to a waitress he was harassing at a cafe at the intersection of 43rd Street and Oakenwald Avenue. The officer confiscated the weapon and began walking the prisoner to a nearby call box. The offender drew a second weapon and shot Patrolman Casey. Patrolman Casey sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died the next day. The suspect, who was an escapee from the Graves County Jail in Mayfield, Kentucky, was convicted of Patrolman Casey's murder. He was paroled in 1960. Patrolman Casey was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, three brothers, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-E68ABA98- 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.
Patrolman Casey gave the Chicago Police Department 12 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 J. Casey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman James J. Casey 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 J. Casey's cause is highlighted.
How James J. Casey Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1960
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James J. Casey is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James J. Casey was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
