Chicago Police Officer Found Dead At Home In West Chesterfield
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago police officer was found dead late Tuesday morning, during a well-being check at his home in the West Chesterfield neighborhood on the South Side, sources said.
Sources with direct knowledge of the situation said one of the officer's loved ones had called police to conduct a well-being check at his home on the 9400 block of South Wabash Avenue.
Police said the 46-year-old active Chicago Police officer, a man, was found unresponsive at that location around 11:10 a.m., and was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was assigned to the third watch, from 4 p.m. to midnight, at the Calumet (5th) District, sources said.
He was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office as Titus Moore.
Late Tuesday, Police Supt. David Brown issued a letter to the force that read in part:
"I am deeply saddened to share with you that an active department member passed away earlier today. I ask that you keep his family in your prayers, and I offer my sincerest condolences to his friends and co-workers....
"I promise we will get through these difficult times together."
A procession of dozens of squad cars escorted an ambulance carrying the body to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Tuesday afternoon. We should get more information on what caused the death in the hours, perhaps days, ahead.
Sources also said the officer who died "had recently tested positive for a respiratory incident." There has been no confirmation COVID-19 was the cause of death, but that's one of many things the medical examiner's office will review, as well as the potential for a heart attack. Sources said the officer was 6 feet tall and weighed 330 pounds.
An autopsy will determine if he had any antibodies for COVID-19, and if his death will be considered in the line of duty.
Police said there have been 1,452 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the department, with three officers passing away from the virus so far.
In April, Supt. David Brown said the death of an officer who passed away from coronavirus would be considered a line of duty death.
The head of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police declined immediate comment on the officer's death, saying he'd prefer to speak to the media after further testing and information is provided.
Also From CBS Chicago:
- Out-Of-Town Victim Speaks After Fighting Off Carjackers Who Put Gun To His Chest Right In Loop
- Former Student Sues Minooka Community High School, Says Racism Is Blatant, Rampant, And Entrenched There
- Woman Says She Paid Thousands To Contractor To Fix Leaky Roof, Only For Him To Demand More And More -- And Then Vanish
