Captain Frank Russell Shea

Frank Russell Shea

Captain Frank Shea was mistakenly shot and killed in front of the main post office on 5th Avenue in Gary, Indiana while conducting an undercover operation with the Gary Police Department.

He had been sent to Gary from his home in Passaic, New Jersey to conduct an investigation into the recent theft of $50,000 worth of cargo from rail cars in the greater Chicago area. He had infiltrated the gang and developed a ruse to have members of the crime ring accompany him to the post office in Gary under the pretext that he would be receiving a letter about a shipment of liquor coming through the area. He had arranged for members of the Gary Police Department to arrest the subjects once the arrived at the post office.

As the men exited the car members of the Gary Police Department approached to take them into custody. Captain Shea, who had ridden in the car with the men, also drew his weapon to assist with the arrest. One of the Gary officers did not recognize him and opened fire, fatally wounding him. Captain Shea made a deathbed statement exonerating the officer from any blame.

Both of the targets of the investigation were arrested.