Constable James Quinn Chicago Police Department Illinois Monday, December 5, 1853  Leave a Reflection  Return to Memorial  Print This Page  Continue Building Book  Page: 1 of 1

Last night you were honored at the annual candle light vigil held at Gold Star Families Memorial and Park on Chicago's lakefront. The event was sponsored by the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. Governor Patrick Quinn and Mayor Richard M. Daley were both present and each spoke at this beautiful event. Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis told the thousands gathered the details of your heroic story all under a beautiful September night sky. In his remarks, the Superintendent also proclaimed you to be the first Chicago Police Officer to be killed in the line of duty. Your great-great grandson, Mr. Jim Phillips, proudly read your name aloud during the roll call of the fallen. Your name was read first from a scroll of 539 other heroes who fell in your wake.

It has been my distinct honor to have fought for your honor since I inadvertantly discovered your all but forgotten sacrifice some seven years ago. I was extremely gratified to finally see your ultimate sacrifice be given the honors you so richly deserved.

Rick Barrett
former DEA ASAC
2009-09-18

On May 13, 2009, Mr. Craig Floyd, the Chairman of the National Police Memorial Fund told your long forgotten story during his opening remarks to the thousands of folks who had gathered in Washington D.C. for the annual Candle light Vigil. He spoke of your heretofore unheralded heroics telling the world via live broadcast on the internet that your sacrifice will be forgotten no more.

You may rest in peace knowing the Quinn Brigade will continue to work tirelessly for justice in your honor.

Rick Barrett
former ASAC DEA
2009-06-13

Just stopping in to inquire if they receive the Chicago news papers in heaven?

Pat Van Den Berghe
Manchester, NH
2009-02-21

Constable Quinn: 2009 will be your year.

anonymous

2009-01-05

One one of the worst days in the history of this country you are remembered.

Rest well Sir

Pat Van Den Berghe
MANCHESTER, NH
2008-09-11

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW AGAIN THAT YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN AND THAT YOU ARE TRULY A HERO.

CERTAINLY THOUGHT SPRING WOULD BE HERE BY NOW, BUT I AM BEGINNING TO THINK MANCHESTER IS MUCH LIKE CHICAGO, COLD AND WINDY.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE A FAN CLUB THAT ALWAYS HAS YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART.

REST GENTLY KIND SIR.

Pat Van Den Berghe
MANCHESTER, NH
2008-04-29

Thinking of you today, our City is have a late "St Paddy's"
Day parade this year, March 31. Will be thinking of you while the pipes are playing from various Emerald Society's, and of course our very own from the Manchester PD.

A Grand day indeed. Not quite as large as Boston or New York, but pretty good size for a State our size.

You are a hero Sir just by the profession you chose. God Bless you and all those remember and love you.

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH
2008-03-27

CONSTABLE QUINN, JUST STOPPING BY TO LET YOU KNOW YOU ARE REMEMBERED AND THOUGHT OF TODAY AND HOPE YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT CARE, AND THAT YOU ARE BEING RECOGNIZED BY A "WEB SITE" IT IS A WONDERFUL THING FOR THIS WRITER WHO SO ADMIRES YOU AND YOUR DEDICATION TO SERVICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

vandenberghe
manchester, nh
2008-02-24

Thought you'd find comfort in the fact that your department now has a new Superintendent and six new Deputy Superintendents. These are the seven highest ranking officers in the CPD. They comprise the body that makes line of duty death determinations. The Quinn Brigade continues to work tirelessly for justice in your case. In addition to our hopes that the new police brass will do the right thing, we will be returning to the Chicago City Council's Committee on Police and Fire this spring to present additional new evidence together with the findings of the Chicago History Museum who conducted an independent investigation of the evidence in your case and concluded in your favor in a 7 to 0 vote, stating, “We can say with certainty Constable Quinn is the earliest known officer to die in the line of duty in Chicago."

A web site, www.constablequinn.com has been established to tell the travails of your story.

So, hang in there Kilkenny, Cork’s a comin!

Rick Barrett, DEA ASAC (retired)
County Cork, Ireland

Rick Barrett
DEA (retired)
2008-02-19

JUST STOPPING BY TO SAY THAT YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2008.

RAIN, SNOW AND WIND HERE IN NH TODAY, BUT THAT KIND OF WEATHER I AM SURE IS NO SURPRISE TO YOU.

JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

YOUR STORY HAS SO TOUCHED MY HEART, AND I THINK AND WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FAMILY. GOD BLESS.

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH
2008-02-05

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
2008-01-22

IT IS NEW YEARS EVE. IN A FEW HOURS IT WILL BE 2008. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU WOULD THINK YOU OUR WORLD TODAY AND I WONDER IF YOU WOULD SEE MANKIND FROM THE SAME PRESPECTIVE THAT IT WAS 155 YEARS AGO.

ANYWAY, JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE AGAIN REMEMBERED. REST WELL SIR.

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH
2007-12-31

It is Christmas Eve afternoon here in NH, we have more snow than we have in in decades, but we will have a very white Christmas.

Just wanted you to know that you are thought of and remembered today.

Pat VanDenBerghe
Manchester, NH
2007-12-24

We will always remember you and may you always rest in peace.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police
2007-12-05

As I continue to update reflections, I leave another one for you today. The frustration of what happened to you still upsets and angers me. Just remembering you again today, you are not forgotten.

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH
2007-12-03

Reading your story broke my heart. Such courage and dedication to duty. The fact that your killer only served 5 years is an insult. Adding to that is the $50.00 paid to your family. If you use an inflation calculator what cost $50.00 in 1853 would cost $1169.16 today. Such injustice. I am sorry for what happened to you and your family.

Thank you sir for your dedication to duty and to the citizens of Chicago, you are remembered today. God bless you for your sacrifice.

pat Van Den Berghe
Manchester, NH
2007-10-26

CONSTABLE QUINN, YOU MAY BE CHICAGOS FORGOTTEN HERO, BUT YOU ARE NOT OURS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF CHICAGO. I APPLAUD YOUR TENACITY IN HONORING YOUR COMMITMENT TO ALWAYS GET YOUR MAN. YOU ARE A TRUE HERO.
YOUR KILLER ONLY GOT FIVE YEARS, BUT HE FACED THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT, AND HE BURNED IN HELL. AND WHAT A SHAME YOUR FAMILY WAS COMPENSATED ONLY $50 FOR YOUR SACRIFICE.

JOB WELL DONE CONSTABLE QUINN. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

JIM SWEENEY CIVILIAN NEW JERSEY
A FRIEND TO ALL PEACE OFFICERS
2007-08-20

as a family member in a line of "Quinn's" in Mpls who are member's of the MPLS finest, I will say the lineage had to start somewhere in the family, and i'm sure this was it.
God Bless, and I'm sure your hand was there to guide when your decendants were on certain cusp's and came out alive.

LSW
DHS
2007-06-05

Dear brother, you are a man among men. You are a statue of that should be erected of what tough is. I only wish that I could have meet a man like you. God bless you and your family.

P.O. Campbell

2007-04-27

Constable Quinn. You have demonstrated great strength and courage that many people this day in age would never consider. I suppose there were not sick days back then. I applaude your dedication to serving the public.

Deputy Sheriff David Bradford
Wake County Sheriff's Office, NC
2006-12-05

As a direct descendent of Constable James Quinn, I have a unique attachment to the history that has been exposed by the efforts of Rick Barrett. It is my hope that these efforts will find that James Quinn is properly honored as the first Chicago Police Officer killed in the line of duty.

Matthew Thomas O'Brien
Great Great Great Grandson
2006-04-20

Your memory was left to atrophy rather than be honored. You are Chicago’s forgotten hero, and I pray the City will finally honor you -- as it prepares its new memorial -- by placing your name among those brave souls who fell in your wake. It would be a poverty if the prejudice to which you were subjected continued to flourish today, denying the justice your ultimate sacrifice so richly deserves.

rick barrett
dea (retired)
2005-01-15

Only 5 years? I see there were flaws in the system even then. Thank you Constable Quinn for your sacrifice and bravery. I'm sure your attacker received his rightful punishment in death. Rest in peace.

Anonymous

2004-01-13