Fallen Officers

End of Watch: November 29, 2024
Age: 40
Tour: 5 years
Badge: 442

Detective Allan Reddins was shot and killed while responding to reports of an armed man leaving a bank in the 1000 block of Lake Street at approximately 9:30 a.m.

He and other officers encountered the man two blocks away, in the 800 block of Lake Street, and instructed him to show his hands. The man produced a handgun and opened fire, striking Detective Reddins in the side. Other officers returned fire and wounded the subject before taking him into custody.

The suspect, who had an extensive criminal record, was charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

Detective Reddins had served with the Oak Park Police Department for five years and previously served with the Metra Police Department. He is survived by his son and mother. Detective Reddins is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois.

End of Watch: January 21, 1938
Age: 27
Tour: 10 years
Badge: 300

Police Officer Chauncey Esch was struck and killed by a train while escorting a prisoner to the police station.

Officer Esch had chased down and captured a 16-year-old purse snatcher. At the time, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad station on Marion Street was located at ground level. Officer Esch was walking his prisoner back to the station along the railroad embankment. They were just west of the train station when Officer Esch was struck from behind by a backing eastbound passenger train. Five cars and the tender passed over him, fracturing his skull and amputating both his legs.

His prisoner was uninjured and testified at the inquest that he had not seen nor heard the train until suddenly, there was a thud, and Officer Esch disappeared beneath its wheels. Evidence was also submitted that suggested the lights on the train that struck him were inadequate.

Officer Esch had served with the Oak Park Police Department for 10 years and spent the majority of his career in the ''Lake-Marion-Harlem'' district. He was survived by his wife and three children. Officer Esch was buried in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Elmhurst.

End of Watch: September 1, 1934
Age: 30
Tour: 4 years and 4 months
Badge: 320

Police Officer Earl Jensen was shot and killed after stopping and attempting to arrest three suspects.

Officer Jensen had chased a car for traffic violations while on motorcycle patrol. The car did not pull over and Officer Jensen fired a warning shot into the air, a common practice at the time. The car stopped in the 800 block of Carpenter Street. After questioning the occupants, Officer Jensen asked a passerby to telephone the police station and request a wagon, presumably to transport the men.

As Officer Jensen returned to the car, the driver opened his door and shot Officer Jensen four to five times. Officer Jensen fell to the ground while returning fire, striking the driver once. A passenger in the car came to the driver's aid and shot Officer Jensen as he lay on the ground, taking the car keys from the officer's body. Officer Jensen suffered two gunshot wounds to the chest and one wound to the left hand.

The two shooters were arrested after a gunbattle in Columbus Park in which one was seriously injured. Subsequent investigation determined the car was stolen by the two shooters who were responsible for a string of armed robberies in Aurora, Elgin, Geneva, and Joliet, Illinois, and in Marshalltown, Iowa. All three suspects were indicted for murder. The suspects identified as the gunmen were convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On December 15, 1934, they were both executed by electrocution at the Cook County Jail.

Officer Jensen had served with the Oak Park Police Department for nearly four and half years. He was survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter. Officer Jensen was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park.

End of Watch: August 28, 1921
Age: 39
Tour: 11 years
Badge: 100

Sergeant Fred Krueger was killed in a motorcycle crash at the intersection of Lombard Avenue and Ontario Street while responding to a fire.

He and another motorcycle officer were at the Augusta Fire House when an alarm sounded for a fire near Austin Boulevard and Lake Street. The officers led a fire truck from the station south on Lombard Avenue. A ''chemical fire patrol car'' was also dispatched from the Municipal Building at 655 Lake Street. The motorcycle officer in the lead had just passed Ontario Street southbound when Sergeant Krueger and the chemical car, traveling eastbound on Ontario Street, entered the intersection at the same time.

Sergeant Krueger attempted to take evasive action as he entered the intersection. At the coroner's inquest, one witness stated that Sergeant Krueger ''saw that he could not turn into Ontario. The oiled surface told him that he would skid so he took a chance and tried to beat the chemical car across Ontario.'' Sergeant Krueger was struck and thrown off his motorcycle, landing on the sidewalk on the north side of Ontario Street, approximately 50 feet east of Lombard Avenue.

Sergeant Krueger had served with the Oak Park Police Department for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. Under a newly enacted law, his family was awarded a police pension of $70 per month, representing half his pay. Sergeant Krueger was buried at Forest Home Cemetery.

End of Watch: April 19, 1921
Age: 33
Tour: 3 years
Badge: 310

Police Officer John Boss was killed while chasing a speeding taxicab.

Officer Boss and his partner chased a fleeing taxicab west on Madison Street from Lombard Avenue in excess of 50 miles per hour. At Wisconsin Avenue, the cab quickly turned southbound. His partner, who was ahead, braked as he passed Wisconsin Avenue and began to turn around. Unable to stop, Officer Boss struck his partner's motorcycle and both men were thrown to the ground, unconscious. Officer Boss' motorcycle reportedly rolled several times and he was struck in the forehead by the handlebars. He died of his injuries 28 hours later.

Officer Boss had served for several years on the police department before volunteering for military duty in World War I. Upon his return to Oak Park, on the recommendation of the chief and his staff, he was reappointed to the police department.

Officer Boss was survived by a sister and three brothers. He was buried in Arlington Cemetery in Elmhurst.

End of Watch: July 4, 1919
Age: 57
Tour: 25 years
Badge: 307

Police Officer William Pottker was struck and killed while directing traffic at the scene of a previous traffic accident on Washington Boulevard near Lombard Avenue.

Officer Pottker had served with the Oak Park Police Department for 25 years. He was buried in Wheaton Cemetery.

End of Watch: June 14, 1916
Age: 29
Tour: 1 year
Badge: 139

Police Officer Herman Malow, Jr. was shot and killed when he was approaching a disturbance between the occupants of two parked cars.

Officer Malow and another officer observed the disturbance on Washington Boulevard just west of Cuyler Street. As they approached, Officer Malow was shot below the heart and thrown from his motorcycle, never having drawn his service revolver. The other officer chased one of the vehicles south on Ridgeland Avenue and east on Madison Street while engaged in a running gunbattle. At Madison Street and Parkside Avenue, the pursuing officer was shot, lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. Although critically wounded, he survived. Both suspect cars were found to be stolen.

Following an intensive investigation and manhunt by Oak Park Police Department and Chicago Police Department, four suspects were arrested. One suspect served three years in prison for the murder and an additional year for escape before dying in 1932. The suspect identified as the gunman in both shootings was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On December 6, 1918, he was executed by hanging at the Cook County Jail.

Officer Malow had served with the Oak Park Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife and 2-week-old daughter. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery.