West Cook News

The Town of Cicero Police Department Command participated in the 23rd Annual Memorial Ceremony hosted by the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation of Cook County (POMFCC) on Friday, May 10, 2024. The ceremony honors police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the public.

This year, the POMFCC honored a Cicero Police Officer, John Kane, who was killed in the line of duty on November 12, 1910. The memorial service took place at Cermak Woods Forest Preserve, located at 7601 W. Ogden Avenue in Lyons Illinois.

Cicero Police Chief Thomas Boyle addressed hundreds of officers from various police departments and law enforcement offices present to honor Officer John Kane’s memory. Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar was one of the keynote speakers honoring Officer Kane's memory at the event alongside Chief Boyle.

Family descendants of Officer Kane were also present to receive a special plaque in his honor. The Officer Down Memorial Page provides this description of Officer’s Kane’s sacrifice:

“Patrolman John Kane was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three subjects who had just robbed a saloon at West 12th Street and 52nd Avenue (present-day Roosevelt Road and Laramie Avenue) at 1:00 am.“Patrolman Kane was on foot patrol on 50th Avenue when he heard shots fired. As he headed towards the sound of the gunfire, he witnessed three men running and ordered them to stop... He was struck five times in the left breast, left arm, left leg, and abdomen. He returned fire...

"Another officer on patrol with Patrolman Kane engaged in a gunfight with the three subjects... During that time, the other two subjects took all the cash the wounded man had stolen and fled.

“Patrolman Kane was transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds...

“The investigation revealed that the bullet that killed one of the subjects was from Patrolman Kane’s service weapon. A second subject was captured a few days later, and the third subject was never apprehended.

“Patrolman Kane had served with the Cicero Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and two daughters.”

More photos of the ceremony can be viewed on the Town of Cicero Facebook Page.