James E. O'Grady facts for kids

James E. O'Grady (born January 21, 1929 – died January 5, 2026) was an important figure in law enforcement in Chicago, Illinois. He served as the top police officer, called the Superintendent, for the Chicago Police Department. Later, he became the Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois. He spent many years working to keep communities safe.

Who Was James E. O'Grady?

Early Life and Police Beginnings

James E. O'Grady was born in Chicago on January 21, 1929. His father was also a police officer. This likely inspired James to join the police force. In 1952, O'Grady became a member of the Chicago Police Department.

Rising Through the Ranks in Chicago

In his early career, O'Grady worked in different police units. He gained a reputation for fighting crime and keeping communities safe. Once, in 1968, he was hurt during a public disturbance. By the mid-1970s, O'Grady had become the Chief of Detectives. This meant he led all the police investigators.

Becoming Police Superintendent

On April 10, 1978, Mayor Michael Bilandic chose O'Grady to be the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. This was a very important job. During his time as Superintendent, O'Grady made history. He promoted the first Black woman to the rank of sergeant in Chicago's police force. He was also praised for being tough on police officers who did not follow the rules.

Challenges and Changes

However, O'Grady's time as Superintendent also had some challenges. There were concerns about how police officers treated citizens. For example, reports came out about how some female drivers were searched after minor traffic stops. O'Grady stopped this practice after the media reported on it. Another issue involved a mayor's staff member who called police officers to his home after his son was arrested.

In 1979, during the mayoral election, candidate Jane Byrne said she would remove O'Grady if she won. She accused him of letting politics influence the police department. Byrne won the election. Soon after she became mayor, O'Grady resigned from his Superintendent role. He had served for just over a year.

Serving Cook County

From Undersheriff to Sheriff

After leaving the Chicago Police Department, O'Grady worked for the Cook County Sheriff's Office. From 1979 to 1981, he was the Undersheriff. This meant he was the second-in-command. In 1981, he returned to the Chicago Police Department as First Deputy Superintendent. Mayor Byrne changed her mind about him and welcomed him back.

In 1983, O'Grady briefly served as interim Superintendent again. This was after Richard J. Brzeczek resigned. Mayor Byrne appointed him on her last day in office. Later that year, O'Grady retired from the police force. He had served for 32 years.

After his police career, O'Grady started a private security company. He also helped investigate an unsolved case, which led to new evidence.

In 1986, O'Grady decided to run for Cook County Sheriff. He switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party to do this. He won the election, becoming the first Republican to win a county-wide office in Cook County in many years. He promised to make the Sheriff's office better and fight against problems.

Leading the Sheriff's Office

When O'Grady first became Sheriff, he was very popular. People thought he might run for even higher offices.

Facing Difficulties and Losing Reelection

Over time, O'Grady became less popular. There were many reports and investigations into how the Sheriff's office was run. Some people were accused of wrongdoing and unfair practices. For example, there were claims about how jobs were given out and how some investigations were handled. Federal investigators looked into these issues.

In 1989, a newspaper reported serious concerns about the department. It claimed that some high-ranking employees were asking for money for political campaigns from their colleagues. There were also claims about jobs being sold. O'Grady's Undersheriff, James Dvorak, resigned after these reports.

More problems came to light. There were investigations into contracts given to a private company. Later, some people who worked in the Sheriff's office were found guilty of accepting bribes. They had rigged tests and created "ghost jobs" where people were paid but didn't actually work. O'Grady himself was not charged with any crimes.

These problems greatly affected O'Grady's chances for reelection. In 1990, he ran for Sheriff again but lost by a large margin to Michael Sheahan. His defeat was one of the biggest for a Republican in Cook County in a long time.

A Look Back at His Life

James E. O'Grady passed away on January 6, 2026, at the age of 96. He had a long career in law enforcement, serving Chicago and Cook County for many decades. He was known for his early efforts to fight crime and for promoting diversity in the police force. His later career as Sheriff faced significant challenges and controversies.