Oak Forest Police Officer Injured in Crash Dies

Original post at 10:40 p.m.

An Oak Forest police officer who was injured in a two-car crash Monday afternoon has died.

Officer Jim Morrissy, 62, of the 15000 block of Laramie Avenue in Oak Forest, was pronounced dead at 8:02 p.m. Monday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Oak Forest Police Chief Greg Anderson said. Morrissy was with the department for 30 years. He is survived by a wife and three sons.

"Worst day of my career," Anderson said Monday night. "A very sad day for Oak Forest.

"An outstanding officer. He worked as hard today, as he did the first day he got on the job."

Anderson appointed Morrissy as a field training officer early in his career. Morrissy, who was known for his thorough knowledge of local ordinances, helped train young officers.

"He was an expert," Anderson said. "...Sometimes I just don't know what to say about it. It's just such a heartbreaking situation. He definitely will be missed."

Officers stood together at Christ Hospital Monday night, and escorted Morrissy's body to the medical examiner's office. 

Earlier Monday, Morrissy was assisting another officer with a domestic situation at 160th and Cicero around 2:15 p.m. Preliminary investigation shows he was attempting to turn left off of 160th Street onto Cicero Avenue when a vehicle traveling south on Cicero Avenue struck the squad car in the driver’s side. Morrissy was pinned in the vehicle. He was taken to Christ Hospital and was in serious to critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries, Anderson said. The other driver suffered minor injuries.

There are no charges pending.