Edward M. Burke, "End of Watch" April 17, 2008

Constable James Quinn was the first. He had arrested a suspected thief in the Sands, a rough-and-tumble Irish neighborhood on the lakefront, but allowed his prisoner to gather a few possessions from a saloon – whereupon the saloon keeper beat Quinn severely, and the prisoner escaped. Quinn went back to the saloon the next day, and was beaten again. He returned to make a report to the night watch captain of the city police, and died of internal injuries two days later, on December 5, 1853.

On Thursday, April 17th, Edward M. Burke will appear at the Pritzker Military Library for an interview with Ed Tracy on his book, End of Watch: Chicago Police Killed in the Line of Duty 1853-2006, co-written with Thomas J. O'Gorman. This event is free and open to the public. The presentation and live webcast will begin at 6:00 p.m., preceded by a reception for Library members at 5:00 p.m. It will also be recorded for later broadcast on WYCC-TV/Channel 20.

End of Watch stretches from Constable Quinn to Patrolman Eric Solorio, who died of injuries sustained in a patrol car accident in January 2006. Between them are 532 accounts of sworn police officers killed in service to the city – each a short story which captures a time and place in Chicago. There were the bloody years of Prohibition, rife with deaths from gang wars and bank robberies; there were seven killed in the Haymarket Riot in 1886, and two others during the race riots of 1919. Some entries conclude with the criminals brought to justice, while others do not.

Over the course of the volume, Chicago’s neighborhoods appear, evolve, and develop into the city we know today. Each entry is a tribute to a police officer killed in the line of duty, but End of Watch also speaks volumes about the unique character of Chicago: the darkest moments of its history, and the different reasons why men and women chose to wear its badge.

Edward M. Burke has served as Alderman of Chicago's 14th Ward since 1969. He is the Chairman of the City Council Committee on Finance, and a partner in the law firm of Klafter & Burke. Prior to being elected, Alderman Burke was a Chicago police officer, serving from 1965 to 1968. He is also the co-author of Inside the Wigwam: Chicago Presidential Conventions, 1860-1996.

Seating for this event is limited, so reservations are recommended. Call 312.587.0234 or email events@pritzkermilitarylibrary.net.

Official Website: http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/events