John J. Byrnes
Agency patch
Patrolman

John J. Byrnes

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch September 30, 1926
Age 43
Badge 4730
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Byrnes succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained four days earlier while responding to a burglary in an alley near 61st Street and Halsted Street. He and his partner officers exchanged fire with two men who then escaped. On November 6th, 1926, two men were interviewed and named Patrolman Byrnes' killer who was in jail in Rochester, New York. The inmate then confessed to murdering Patrolman Byrnes. Patrolman Byrnes was assigned to the 11th District.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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

— 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 September 30, 1926
Age 43
Badge Number 4730
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 43. Of the 14,219 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

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John J. Byrnes

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch September 30, 1926

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E

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