P.O. John Lyons #3124

On 05 Oct 1992, Officer Lyons died when his squad car struck a tree and a light pole while he and his partner were en route to assist another unit with a DUI arrest. Lyons was ejected from the car and killed; and his partner seriously injured.

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Crash Victim John J. Lyons, 55, Chicago Officer For 25 Years
October 09, 1992|By Jennifer Lenhart.

Patrol Specialist John J. Lyons, a 25-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was known to friends and the many rookies he trained as an enterprising officer who placed a premium on safety. Officer Lyons, 55, died in an automobile accident Monday while patroling in a squad car with a trainee.

During his career, Officer Lyons worked as a dispatcher, at the Shakespeare and Belmont districts, and in many special programs, said his longtime friend and colleague, Patrol Specialist Don Wolverton. Officer Lyons routinely volunteered to work on safety roadblock inspection teams, and he had just worked on such a team last weekend.

Wolverton recalled having a lighthearted conversation with Officer Lyons in the Belmont District Headquarters just a few minutes before he left the station for what would be the last time.
Police have not determined the cause of the crash, which happened about 3:15 a.m. Monday in the 3400 block of North Kimball Avenue, and which seriously injured the passenger, Jerry Knickrehm, 33, a probationary officer. Officer Pat Dwyer, who also is assigned to the Belmont District, recalled spending eight weeks training with Officer Lyons in the Shakespeare District in 1987.

``He was someone who got into everything,`` Dwyer said. ``Every call he responded to. It was something he did to give the recruits experience.``
Officer Lyons is survived by his wife, Carol; two sons, Jeffrey and Joseph; two daughters Kristi and Clara; his parents, John and Frances; two sisters; and two grandchildren.
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On May 25, 2006 Officer Lyons' star was retired by the Chicago Police Department.