Preserving Irish Traditional Music in Chicago: Francis O'Neill

Chief O'Neill

On July 12, 1873, almost three years after his arrival in the city, Francis O’Neill began his tenure in the Chicago Police Department. His years on the force were always eventful, and certainly started out that way. Less than one month after joining the force, O'Neill encountered and was shot by a burglar.[1] Despite his injury, O’Neill apprehended the thief – a courageous response that resulted in recognition for his bravery by an instant promotion and began his steady rise through the ranks from 1873-1905. Promotions included moves from Patrol Officer to Desk Sergeant (1878), to Patrol Sergeant (1887), to Lieutenant (1890), to Secretary to the General Superintendent in 1893. Overall, he transferred seven times between 1873 and 1901.

Medal

Batons

Convention Medals

O'Neill served on the force during several significant historical events:  the Chicago City Railway Strike that lasted for three months in 1877; the Haymarket Square labor rally-turned-riot on May 4, 1886 when O’Neill was working in the office of the General Superintendant; the 1894 Pullman Strike, when he was Captain; and significant in O’Neill’s tenure as Chief, the 1903 Iroquois Fire in which 602 people tragically died.[4]  Clearly disturbed by the catastrophe, O’Neill wrote in his memoirs, “The horrors of that day will never be effaced from the memory of those who took part in the rescue, and to this department, great credit is due for the heroism displayed.”[5]

Assistant Sergeant Medal

Francis O’Neill sought to be a fair chief. He understood times were hard, that desperation often led folks to petty crime, and showed compassion whenever he could. Even when dealing with the Russian anarchist Emma Goldman in 1901, he refused to expedite her arrest to New York where she could have been unjustly executed. On his extensive travels, O’Neill interacted with various people and races of the world and viewed them equally; during his tenure as Chief, he appointed the first African-American, William Childs, to the rank of sergeant.

As General Superintendent, O’Neill attended numerous conventions. Among his possessions, held now by his great-granddaughter Mary Lesch, remain the convention medals for the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conventions in Galesburg, Illinois, February 26-27, 1902, Bloomington, Illinois, August 13-14, 1902, and in New Orleans and St.Louis in 1903 and 1904, respectively.

Certificate of O'Neill's reappointment as police chief

Police Committee Medals

Francis O’Neill paid great attention to detail in every aspect of his life and certainly in his role as General Superintendent of Police. His annual reports (1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904), describe the range of duties carried out by the force and the criminal activities it faced. In addition, he provides transparent details of the budget and fiscal challenges of the time. Such details were included in the 1901 report, where O'Neill notes that the force was not large enough to deal with the issues they faced in the city. He also writes about the various precincts and districts under his domain, showing how wide the expanse he controlled was.[6] In 1902 the report highlights the suppression of opium houses across the city and the rise of care required for an increasing number of homeless Chicagoans. This care was no longer in the hands of the officers and was instead delivered by the staff of the Municipal Lodging House.[7] In the 1903 document, O'Neill reports the high demands placed on the aging population of the Force, and working hours that were much longer than counterparts in other large cities. He cites the number of arrests at 77,763 and notes the labor controversies across Chicago - unrest that was an ongoing issue for his officers. But the 1903 report also highlights many improvements to the city’s order: the apprehension of car barn bandits responsible for widespread crime across Chicago, ending their rampage; the curtailing of saloon hours of operation; and the reduction to an all-time low gambling of all types. [8] The 1904 report includes detail of a reorganization of the force that expanded to include probation officers, photographers, dog catchers, license officers, mechanics, and other new roles. 1904 also saw the introduction of a new police star badge of office. In 1905, O'Neill began his final year as General Superintendent. This year brought another disturbance -- the Packing House and Union Stock Yards strike -- that began in 1904, and involved 25,000 organized labor workers, and although he planned to retire at the end of his second term, The Chief remained in his post until the strike concluded.[9] Stepping down in 1905, O'Neill was the first ever General Superintendent of Police whose appointment had entered a third term, and concluded an impressive career of thirty-two years in the Chicago Police Department.