P.O. James O'Connor #4573
| Name: | O'Connor, James M. |
| Star: | 4573 |
| Rank: | Police Officer |
| District / Unit: | 023 District (Town Hall) |
| End of Watch: | 16-Sep-1995 |
| Incident Details: |
Officer O'Connor was off duty when he intervened in a robbery. O'connor was in his car talking to a woman outside El Jardin, a restaurant located at Clark and Roscoe Streets, around 3 am when a car drove by and a young boy stole the woman's purse. The car was being driven by 22 yar old Franklin Mathews of Bolingbrook IL who was believed to have committed previous robberies with the 14 year old purse snatcher. O'Connor gave chase and cut off Matthews' vehicle in the 4100 block of Marine Drive, near Lake Shore Drive and Irving Park Road. As he approached the car fierce gunfire erupted. O'Connor was hit twice and died before he could make it back to his car. Mathews drove off but did not get far. O'Connor had shot him twice and his injuries caused him to crash into a brick wall. He was found dead behind the steering wheel. The boy, was arrested and charged with robbery of the woman's purse and, shortly thereafter, murder. Officer O'Connor was survived by his parents Thomas and Louise O'Connor; three brothers, Thomas, Daniel and Tim; and his grandmother, Martha Rossdeutcher. Officer O'Connor is buried at All Saints Cemetery in Chicago IL. |
Reflections
Jimmy First, and above all else, I want to thank the powers that be that our families are friends. It was with that great fortune that our paths crossed and I had the privilege of eventually becoming your friend. Even though our friendship was brief, your acts of heroism and unselfishness remain etched in my mind to this day. Your impact on my family's life was so great that my aunt named her second son after you, so that the name "Jimmy" is always around us. I know it's been a while, but I miss you, bro. You were needed elsewhere, and I understand that... Thanks again for being my friend and God bless your soul! - Arturo
16 years ago today you were taken from the world. Not one day goes by where I do not think of you. I went to the place your life was taken and left balloons and flowers. I'm the luckiest girl though knowing that I have you as my guardian angel. I miss you more than you will ever know and so does everyone else. I love you Uncle Jimmy you will always be my angel<3 I love you
On September 16th 1995 Chicago lost a hero and i lost my uncle but on September 16th 1995 I also gained a guradian angel.
You are still greatly missed by many friends. God Bless You, O'C. --Anonymous 06/082008
Jim, I still remember standing outside 044 talking about what you wanted to be and do.......YOU are, and YOU have! Keep watch over the rest of us until it's time we see each other again. -- Daniel J. O'Connor #8009 10/22/2009 ****************