Funeral Set Monday, Sept. 11, for Hero CPD Officer Shot In Line of Duty 29 Years Ago

CHICAGO, IL -- A Chicago police officer who died 29 years after he was shot in the line of the duty will be remembered Monday, Sept. 11, in a funeral mass at Queen of Martyrs Church in Evergreen Park. Chicago Police Officer Bernard “Bernie” Domagala succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head last week. He was 66.

On July 24, 1988, Domagala was part of the CPD’s Hostage, Barricade and Terrorist Unit that had been called to the home of a former police officer in the 7200 block of South Stony Island Avenue. The former cop had apparently shot a mover in the arm who had been trying to evict him for not paying his mortgage. Domagala, 37 years old at the time, had taken up a position behind the corner of a garage near the home. When Domagala peaked around the corner of the garage, the former cop shot the officer in the forehead with a single round from a replica Civil War-era pistol, police said.

The wound left Domagala with a traumatic brain injury with which he lived for years. Domagala was disabled and confined to a rehabilitation center for several years. He underwent numerous brain injuries and continued to experience severe complications. Domagala died Sept. 5 at Kindred Lakeshore Hospital in Edgewater. The former cop who shot him was ruled incompetent to stand trial and has been institutionalized ever since.

CPD First Deputy Police Supt. Kevin Navarro called Domagala a true hero. “He will never be forgotten,” Navarro said.

Domagala was the loving husband of Denise, and beloved father of three sons, Erik, and twins Craig and Adam, who were four and four months old, respectively, where their father was injured in the line of duty. He leaves a sister, Karen Murphy, and brother, Roger Domagala. He was also the cherished brother in law of Ed and Deb Hoyt, and uncle to their sons, Neil and Scott.

The Domagala family also expressed thanks to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation for “their continued love, support, and for never forgetting us.”

A funeral procession route has been set for Monday morning from Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn, prior to the 10 a.m. Mass at Queen of Martyrs Church, 10233 Central Park Ave. in Evergreen Park.

The procession will begin from the funeral home eastbound on 103rd Street to Pulaski Avenue; southbound on Pulaski Avenue to 105th Street; east on 105th Street to Sawyer Avenue; and north on Sawyer Avenue to 103rd Street; and westbound on 103rd Street to Queen of Martyrs Church.

There will also be some parking restrictions around Queen of Martyrs Church on Monday morning:

• 103rd St: Kedzie to Pulaski
• Central Park: 103rd – 105th
• St Louis Ave: 103rd-105th
• Drake Ave: 103rd-105th
• Christiana Ave: 103rd-105th
• Trumbull Ave:103rd-105th

Arrangements are by Blake-Lamb. More information can be found on the funeral home’s website. The Domagala family requests that donations be made to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.