Day 339: Constable Quinn

     For decade upon decade, Chicago has been under the watchful eye of the Chicago Police Department. From serving as security at countless events, to guarding commuters in the summer of 2011 when Flash Mobs had their flash in the pan, to their prowess at "preserving disorder" demonstrated in 1968, the men and women of the CPD have more than earned a place in Chicago's history many tomes over. But as we all know, being an officer of the law can be dangerous, and close to 500 police officers have made the ultimate sacrifice over the last 160 years. This entry is about the very first one of those brave souls, as well as the quest to properly remember his sacrifice.

     160 years ago TODAY, on December 5, 1853 9th Ward Constable James Quinn passed on from this life after being savagely beaten by a pair of thugs. He was serving an arrest warrant 3 days earlier in what is today known as Streeterville(or thereabouts) when he was beset by a hail of kicks and punches. Quinn succumbed to his wounds 3 days later, and a posse of 26 cops went back to arrest Quinn's attackers. They wound up getting a multi-year prison sentence, Quinn's case was covered in the pages of the Chicago Democrat, and then the whole thing was promptly forgotten for nearly 150 years. Eventually, a different officer was given Quinn's dubious honor.

     In 12002, one of Quinn's descendants(a section chief in the DEA) was doing some genealogical t99osrch when he found a long-forgotten letter awarding Quinn's widow compensation for her loss. After some more detective work, Quinn's legacy was verified by a group from the Chicago History Museum. However, there is still one more unfinished chapter in the saga of Constable Quinn. There is a memorial wall to all the officers who died in the line of duty near the office of the Police Superintendent. According to an opinion piece that ran in this past Sunday's Tribune, Quinn's star is out of place on the wall. The paper is urging Superintendent Garry McCarthy to rectify the situation. We will see what happens to resolve this tale.