James Cooley
Agency patch
Patrolman

James Cooley

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch April 4, 1927
Age 45
Badge 792
The Vigil Panel 52 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman James Cooley succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on January 23rd, 1927, after he was approached by two victims who informed him they had just been robbed. Patrolman Cooley located the suspect at the intersection of 29th Street and Prairie Avenue. The man drew a gun and fired killing Patrolman Cooley. The 43-year-old suspect was tried for murder and acquitted after witnesses to the murder were discredited at his trial.

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Cooley served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cooley.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 4, 1927
Age 45
Badge Number 792
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 45. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman James Cooley

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch April 4, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E

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