Veteran Chicago Police Officer City's First To Die Of Coronavirus

CHICAGO, IL — A Chicago police officer became the city’s first officer to die of the new coronavirus. Marco DiFranco, 50, was a highly decorated, 21-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department most recently assigned to the Bureau of Detectives’ narcotics unit.

The officer's death was announced on the CPD twitter feed before Mayor Lori Lightfoot's daily press conference.

"We are devastated to confirm that #COVID19 has hit the Chicago Police Department and a dedicated family of city public servants very hard," outgoing spokesman Anthony Guglielmi posted on Twitter.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the officer’s death Thursday morning at her daily press conference to address the coronavirus crisis.

“Since the moment this crisis arrived in our city it has been our health care workers and first responders, like this officer, who’ve been putting their lives on the line every day to fight this virus and keep Chicagoans safe,” Lightfoot said. “Tragically this officer gave his life to that fight.”

The mayor said DiFranco contracted the virus last week. He entered the hospital over the weekend and died Wednesday with his family by his bedside.

“I spoke to his commander, and he was held in high esteem by all who worked with him,” Lightfoot said.

By law, the Chicago Department of Public Health must safeguard the personal privacy of all patients. It was only with the family’s consent that the officer’s name was being released.

“This searing loss is another reminder of the lethal danger of COVID-19 and that danger it poses to our city,” Lightfoot said. “This is why every single day you will hear me say that we have to stay home to save lives. What each of you does matters. Every time you go outside it matters. Every time you violate the orders against congregating in large groups it matters. You are not only putting yourselves at risk you’re putting others at risk. I just implore that small segment of you who still haven’t gotten the message that you must stay home to save lives.”

DiFranco was the married father of two young children. Interim Police Superintendent Charlie Beck said DiFranco’s brother was also assigned to CPD’s narcotics unit. In his 21 years with the department, DiFranco received 154 awards, including a superintendent’s honorable mention and a special commendation.

“We’ve always been more at risk of violence because of our profession,” the acting police superintendent said “Now we are at more risk of virus because of our profession.”

Beck said the virus impacts first responders differently as they cannot shelter in place and are on the front line safeguarding communities. CPD plans to explore whether the COVID-19 related death meets the standards for a long of duty death classification, according to a CPD tweet.

Since the deadly coronavirus began spreading throughout the city and state, Chicago police have been running as many 1-person cars as possible or “constant pairing with the same partner to minimize the transfer of the virus,” Beck said.

DiFranco’s partner is in self-quarantine, as is the officer’s family. Beck did not know if DiFranco’s family had been tested for the virus.

“This is a silent killer,” Beck said. “It’s difficult to know where it comes from.”

A colleague of DiFranco’s paid tribute to the fallen officer in a tweet:

“Officer Marco Di Franco, a first generation Italian American was assigned to an undercover narcotics team. His first love was his family, his second was being a Chicago cop and lastly his heritage and collection of Italian sports cars. He was one hell of a policeman.”

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