Incident
Sergeant Thomas J. Babbington was attacked and shot during an arrest at 319 W Root Street. On January 21st, 1925, Sergeant Babbington entered a soft drink parlor in search of a wanted offender. While trying to find the suspect, Sergeant Babbington was stopped by the bartender and several patrons. Sergeant Babbington drew his service weapon and exited the establishment in order to call for back-up. The sergeant entered a taxi cab when several men followed behind him and shot him four times. Sergeant Babbington returned fire but did not shoot any of his killers. Sergeant Babbington was rushed to a local hospital. Before succumbing to his injuries he identified a well-known gangster as one of his shooters. Sergeant Babbington died on January 26th, 1925. The man Sergeant Babbington identified was charged with murder and held without bond. Several of his accomplices were arrested, but later acquitted. The prime suspect's charges were dropped. On March 21st, 1950, his body was found hanging on a barbed-wire fence near Hartsdale, Indiana. He had been shot in the head execution-style. Sergeant Babbington had served with the Chicago Police Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife and two sons. He is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Sergeant Babbington gave the Chicago Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Babbington.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Chicago Police Department has lost 571 officers; 396 of them killed feloniously.
Thomas is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1925, 12 officers at Chicago Police Department were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 123 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 13.
In 1925, 22 officers in IL were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1925, 208 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1925, 209 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Thomas was 41. Of the 345 killed feloniously at Chicago Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 43; the middle age was 36. Thomas had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Thomas was 41. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 41. 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. Thomas had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 41. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 7.6% of these deaths at Chicago Police Department; August holds the most, 10.1%. Mondays: 15.9%.
January holds 7.4% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Mondays: 14.4%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 69.4% of all 571 deaths at Chicago Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 44.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 30.6% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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James Quinn Dec 5, 1853
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Casper Lauer
Sep 18, 1854
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John C. Churchwood Mar 25, 1864
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Niels L. Hansen Feb 18, 1871
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Patrick O'Meara
Aug 5, 1872
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Christian Jacobs Aug 18, 1873
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S. Wellington McArthur Jun 29, 1877
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Gilbert E. Reynolds
Dec 5, 1877
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Albert Race Oct 4, 1878
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Timothy Mahoney Jun 12, 1881
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Patrick M. O'Brien
Aug 3, 1881
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Daniel Crowley Aug 4, 1881
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John Huebner Feb 4, 1882
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Clarence E. Wright Nov 29, 1882
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Cornelius Barrett May 31, 1885
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Michael W. O'Brien Nov 11, 1885
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Mathias J. Degan
May 4, 1886
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John J. Barrett
May 6, 1886
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George F. Miller
May 6, 1886
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Timothy Flavin
May 8, 1886
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Michael Sheehan
May 9, 1886
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Thomas Redden
May 17, 1886
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Nels Hansen
Jun 14, 1886
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Michael O'Brien
Apr 3, 1887
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William S. Hallaran Jul 16, 1887
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Philip L. Robinson Sep 5, 1887
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John Keegan Nov 4, 1887
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Timothy O'Sullivan
Jun 13, 1888
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Adam W. Fryer
Aug 9, 1889
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James McDowell
Oct 3, 1889
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William F. Ellfeldt May 12, 1890
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Frank Williams
Mar 27, 1891
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George Schlinger
Oct 10, 1891
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William H. Schnell Jan 2, 1892
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Jasper H. Cole Feb 10, 1892
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John Powell, Jr. Sep 6, 1892
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Henry L. McDowell Sep 7, 1892
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Stillman A. Danforth Jun 8, 1893
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Edward J. Carney Dec 8, 1893
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John J. Dempsey Jul 14, 1894
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William Feeley Jul 31, 1894
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Andrew Matthias Hauswirth
Sep 30, 1894
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William Sleeth Oct 9, 1894
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George Krum Nov 1, 1894
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Edward Duddles
Jan 3, 1895
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John Monahan Jan 27, 1895
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John L. V. Blomberg Nov 7, 1895
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Patrick Fenton
Feb 27, 1898
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Bernard A. Kuebler
Oct 10, 1898
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Bartholomew Cavanaugh
Dec 15, 1898
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Edward J. Wallner Jan 5, 1899
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John F. McDermott
Apr 11, 1900
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Timothy S. O'Connell May 3, 1900
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William F. Messenger
Apr 25, 1901
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Patrick Duffy
May 1, 1902
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Timothy T. Devine
Aug 12, 1902
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Charles Pennell
Aug 12, 1902
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Michael J. O'Rourke Oct 24, 1903
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John Quinn
Nov 22, 1903
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Joseph D. Driscoll
Dec 1, 1903
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Dennis C. Fitzgerald Jan 20, 1904
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Michael Shaughnessy
May 22, 1904
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James J. Keefe
Jan 5, 1905
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Richard F. Cummings
May 1, 1905
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Patrick E. Blackwell May 20, 1905
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John P. Shine
Oct 10, 1905
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Luke John Fitzpatrick
Nov 19, 1906
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Edward M. Smith
Aug 5, 1907
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Robert W. McAneney
Nov 16, 1907
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Michael D. Callahan
Jan 4, 1908
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William Richard Mooney
Jan 4, 1908
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Edward C. J. Hennessey
Oct 16, 1908
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William J. Russell Jun 12, 1909
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Henry George Schnable
Jul 1, 1909
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John Patrick Kearney, Sr.
Jul 2, 1909
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John Wren Mar 5, 1910
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Patrick Melia
Apr 27, 1910
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Edward G. Shea Aug 16, 1910
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Jesse C. Gilman
Dec 24, 1910
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Thomas E. Tighe
Mar 11, 1911
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Patrick Fogarty
Jul 2, 1911
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Thomas Schweig
Jul 15, 1911
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Michael King May 20, 1912
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Charles T. Jones
Nov 10, 1912
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Peter M. Hart
Jan 20, 1913
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Andrew Gartley Jun 1, 1914
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Stanley J. Birns
Jul 16, 1914
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John Rowe
Aug 6, 1914
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George H. Trumbull Aug 17, 1914
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John J. Prendergast Aug 30, 1914
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Frank Dealy
Oct 5, 1914
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William J. Rosenstreter
Nov 6, 1914
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Austin L. Fitch
Nov 24, 1914
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John B. Sausman
Jan 5, 1915
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James F. Mitchell
Nov 15, 1915
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John C. Burke
Dec 16, 1915
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Bror A. Johnson
Jan 21, 1916
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Stuart N. Dean
Jul 18, 1916
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John L. Bialk
Sep 21, 1916
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Gilbert F. Coyne Oct 5, 1916
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John Francis Kenny
Nov 23, 1916
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Bruno H. Frederick
Dec 6, 1916
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Edward J. Mulvihill
Dec 18, 1916
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Charles C. Larsen
May 13, 1917
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Peter R. Bulfin
Jul 13, 1917
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Martin J. Corcoran
Aug 13, 1917
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Joseph P. Tiernan Aug 24, 1917
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Joseph A. O'Connor Nov 4, 1917
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Joseph H. Urban Dec 6, 1917
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Michael J. McGough
Dec 7, 1917
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George Clausen
Apr 13, 1918
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James F. Looney
May 1, 1918
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Peter H. Ostiller
Jun 12, 1918
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Glenn Tenbrook Whallon Sep 30, 1918
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Rudolph John Tuerk
Oct 1, 1918
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Edward James Madden Oct 3, 1918
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Walter John Bermingham Oct 3, 1918
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Andrew Joseph Sullivan Oct 8, 1918
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Cornelius Albert Cominskey Oct 10, 1918
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Daniel Coughlin Oct 17, 1918
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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