Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 19 years, 3 months, 30 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 4th District - South Chicago
District of Incident (Present Day): Evergreen Park, IL
Cause of Death: Illness - COVID-19
Age at Time of Death: 59
Timeline
Date of Birth: 28 Jan 1961
Date of Appointment: 18 Dec 2000
Date of Incident: 23 Mar 2020
End of Watch: 17 Apr 2020
Date of Interment:
Interment Details
Cemetery: Lincoln Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Pending Ceremony
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Pending Ceremony
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Pending Ceremony
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Pending Ceremony
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: Unknown
Incident & Biographic Details
Police Officer Ronald Newman, Star #6622, aged 59 years, was a 19 year, 3 month, 30 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 4th District - South Chicago.
On March 23, 2020 at 5:50 a.m., Officer Newman was placed on the “Medical Roll“ after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. On March 25, 2020, at 4:16 p.m., Officer Newman began experiencing breathing problems and went to the ER at the Little Company of Mary Hospital, located at 2800 West 95th Street, Evergreen Park, IL. He was admitted to the ICU and would later succumb to the illness. He was pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m. on April 17, 2020. On April 19, 2020, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Interim Superintendent Charles Beck announced that Officer DiFranco’s death would be classified as in the line of duty. Officer Newman was the third Chicago Police Officer to die in the line of duty from COVID-19.
Police Officer Ronald Newman, born January 28, 1961, received his Probationary Appointment to the Department on December 18, 2000 and was in Recruit Class 00-7 at the Jackson Street Police Academy. He earned 12 Department Commendations, 1 Honorable Mention Ribbon Award, 1 Unit Meritorious Award, 1 Joint Operations Awards, 4 Attendance Recognition Awards, The 2019 Crime Reduction Award, The 2009 Crime Reduction Award, The 2004 Crime Reduction Award, the NATO Summit Service Award, 118 Honorable Mentions and 6 Complimentary Letters during his career.
Officer Newman was waked at Leak & Sons Funeral Home located at 18400 South Pulaski Road, Country Club Hills, Illinois. He was laid to rest on April 23, 2020 in Lincoln Cemetery, 12300 South Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
Officer Newman was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was survived by his wife, Chiquita L. (Civilian CPD), age 51, son and stepdaughter.
Incident Recorded under RD #JD211066.
Recent Reflections