Maurice Leahy, Jr.

Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch July 29, 1921

Age 29

The Vigil Panel 41 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 17

Incident

Police Officer Maurice Leahy succumbed to wounds suffered three days earlier after being involved in a gunbattle with two freight car thieves in Highland Park, Illinois. Officer Leahy walked in on freight car burglars and was shot once by one suspect. Officer Leahy, having been under fire before, did not fall. He charged at the two suspects and was struck on the head with the butt of a revolver, but again did not fall. Officer Leahy was able to fire five times, killing one suspect. The other suspect was later captured by police. Officer Leahy died three days later of complications from the bullet wound. Officer Leahy served as a soldier during WWI in the American Expeditionary Force.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-1A2D3BB4
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.
Police Officer Leahy served with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department.
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

Department Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cnrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 29, 1921

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender One shot and killed

Military Service

Maurice Leahy, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Maurice Leahy, 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 Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department, 14 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department

of 18 officers

77.8% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious