Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Thomas Costello was killed in an automobile crash while transporting a heart attack victim to the hospital in a police ambulance. The vehicle collided with a truck at the triple intersection of 71st Street, Cottage Grove Avenue, and South Chicago Avenue. Patrolman Costello was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for four years. He was survived by his expectant wife, parents, and sister. His son was born after his death.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife, parents, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-E989E3AD- 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 Costello 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
Thomas J. Costello served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Thomas J. Costello 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. Thomas J. Costello's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas J. Costello Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas J. Costello is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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