William J. O'Malley
Agency patch
Probationary Patrolman

William J. O'Malley

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch December 30, 1922
Age 25
Tour of Duty 7 mo
Badge 2
The Vigil Panel 44 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William O'Malley was shot and killed by a man who had just shot a high school girl walking home from her prom with her friends. The suspect and two other men made unwanted advances toward the girl. When she refused to have anything to do with them, the suspect shot her in the hip. Officer O'Malley and his partner, only a block away, heard the shot and intercepted the three as they ran to the scene. In an exchange of gunfire with the suspect Officer O'Malley was killed. His partner shot and killed the suspect. The suspect's two companions escaped.

Survivors

Officer O'Malley was survived by his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
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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.
Probationary Patrolman O'Malley served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Probationary Patrolman O'Malley.

— 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 December 30, 1922
Tour of Duty 7 mo
Age 25
Badge Number 2
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 25. 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 0.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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 gun, in 22.8% 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

Probationary Patrolman William J. O'Malley

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch December 30, 1922

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E

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