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William Richard Mooney
Agency patch
Detective

William Richard Mooney

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch January 4, 1908
Age 45
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Badge 2590
The Vigil Panel 22 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Detective William R. Mooney was shot and fatally wounded as he stopped 3 suspects for questioning. At 7:30 p.m., Detective Mooney and two other detectives were taking a burglary report that occurred earlier in the afternoon. They were near the intersection of Sangamon and Van Buren. Mooney noticed three suspicious men and asked the victim to look them over as they approached. As they neared, Mooney directed the tallest of the trio, "Come here a moment. I want to see you". Mooney grabbed the suspect by the sleeve and his two companions ran north on Sangamon Street. Still holding the suspect, the detective fired several shots in the air to attract attention of the other two detectives who were then at the patrol box. The detectives turned on hearing the first shot, drew their weapons and fired at the fleeing men. One detective started in pursuit, leaving the second detective in charge of the prisoner at the box. At that same instant, another shot was fired. The detective turned in time to witness Mooney fall to the sidewalk and the tall suspect, revolver in hand, run north on Sangamon Street. Dragging his prisoner with him, the detective began to pursue the gunman, firing as he ran. Meanwhile, the gunman's companions drew their revolvers and engaged the pursuing detective in a gun battle as they continued to run north on Sangamon Street. The gunmen emptied their revolvers and took turns reloading and firing. When they reached Monroe Street, the men turned west and the pursuing detective soon lost sight of them. Hundreds attracted by the shooting gathered around the wounded detective and he was carried to Grace Hospital by several men in the crowd. Detective Mooney was still conscious and able to provide a description of his assailant. Innocent bystanders were also hit by gunfire and were carried to the hospital, placed on cots next to Detective Mooney. Nine years earlier, Detective Mooney was paralyzed for one year after being struck on the head by a thief at Peoria a

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

23 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Mooney gave the Chicago Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Mooney.

— 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 January 4, 1908
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 2590
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1908, 129 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 35th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William 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. William had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. 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, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective William Richard Mooney

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch January 4, 1908

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-W

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