Martin J. Corcoran
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

Martin J. Corcoran

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch August 13, 1917
Age 40
Tour of Duty 10 yrs 9 mo
Badge 4259
The Vigil Panel 32 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant Martin Corcoran succumbed to gunshot wounds when he was shot while attempting to arrest two burglars at Waveland Avenue and Broadway Street in Chicago. He had observed two subjects waiting for a streetcar on Waveland Avenue carrying a basket containing jewelry and other stolen items. When Detective Sergeant Corcoran approached them, the men fled, and a foot pursuit ensued. The subjects stopped at Broadway Street, where Sergeant Corcoran started to arrest the men for possession of stolen items. One of the subjects pulled out a gun and shot Sergeant Corcoran. A nearby store owner witnessed the altercation and chased the men as they fled. He fired a shot, wounding the shooter. Detective Sergeant Corcoran succumbed to his wounds two months later. The killer was convicted of murder and hanged on February 28th, 1919. The accomplice was also convicted, but he escaped prison and was never captured. Detective Sergeant Corcoran had served with the Chicago Police Department for over 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, two brothers, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Detective Sergeant Corcoran gave the Chicago Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Corcoran.

— 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 August 13, 1917
Tour of Duty 10 yrs 9 mo
Age 40
Badge Number 4259
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Martin was 40. 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. Martin had served 10.8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 8.9% 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, Martin among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Sergeant Martin J. Corcoran

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch August 13, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E

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