Michael J. Healy, a 26-year-old white male, tragically lost his life on June 21, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois. Healy, who served as a police officer with the United States Postal Inspection Service, was on duty at the main post office in downtown Chicago when the incident occurred. During a robbery attempt, two men entered the post office and attempted to disarm Officer Healy at gunpoint. Healy bravely resisted, refusing to hand over his weapon and attempting to disarm the assailants.
In the ensuing struggle, he was shot and killed.
The suspects involved in the robbery and murder of Michael J. Healy were quickly apprehended. The two primary assailants, aged 20 and 18, along with their 16-year-old getaway driver, were charged with murder. The legal proceedings that followed saw both older suspects convicted of murder on May 5, 1982. The 20-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment, while the 18-year-old received a 40-year sentence. The 16-year-old getaway driver was sentenced to four years in prison.
Officer Healy's death was a significant loss to his family and the community. He had served with the United States Postal Police for one year and had previously been a member of the Hometown, Illinois, Police Department for two years. Healy was survived by his wife, stepdaughter, parents, sister, and brother. In recognition of his service and sacrifice, a post office in Bridgeview, Illinois, was renamed the Michael J. Healy Post Office Building in his honor on July 14, 2003.
