Patrolman Martin C. McCaw was accidentally shot and killed when his partner tripped and his service revolver discharged.
The two officers chased two gunmen into a vacant lot on Blue Island Avenue. Officer McCaw just captured one of the men when his partner tripped and discharged the revolver. The round struck Officer McCaw in the head. He was transported to Mother Cabrini Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Both men fled the scene after the shot was fired.
Officer McCaw had won a citizen award months earlier for rescuing five people from a burning apartment building in January. He was assigned to District 12 and was a seven year veteran of the department. He is survived by his five children.
