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Michael J. Lynch
Agency patch
Patrolman

Michael J. Lynch

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch December 8, 1928
Age 35
Badge 5343
The Vigil Panel 56 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Michael J. Lynch, on special detail at an A and P store at 458 E. 37th Street, was shot to death at 5:35 pm by one of two bandits when he attempted to stop a robbery in progress. A third accomplice was acting as a lookout in front of the store. The armed men escaped but three days later they were booked for murder after making a confession. It was discovered that the 22-year-old killer had murdered two men in two different Chicago drugstore robberies earlier the same year. One was the owner of his drugstore and the other a customer. He was convicted of all three murders and sentenced to life plus two 50 year terms. In 1967 his sentences were commuted to 13 years making him eligible for parole.

Survivors

Patrolman Lynch was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Patrolman Lynch served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Lynch.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 8, 1928
Age 35
Badge Number 5343
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1928, 201 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 13th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 35. 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

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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, Michael among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Michael J. Lynch

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch December 8, 1928

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-E

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