Chicago cop who died from COVID-19 laid to rest

Officer Titus Moore was devoted to his family and the city of Chicago, relatives said.

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The Honor Guard carry the casket of Field Training Officer Titus Moore during Moore’s funeral outside of Leak & Sons Funeral Home at 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Anthony Vazquez, Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Chicago police Officer Titus Moore, who died from COVID-19 last month, was remembered during a funeral Tuesday as a caring cop who’d do anything for family.

His sister, Thea Moore, said when she moved from Kansas City to Florida, Moore flew out to make the long car ride with her so she wouldn’t have to do it alone.

“He was always there when you needed him,” she said. She recalled with a laugh another time during a family vacation to Las Vegas when Moore, her younger brother, tattled on her for playing slots while underage.

Moore, who attended Whitney Young High School and Triton College, became a Cook County sheriff’s deputy before following in the footsteps of his father by joining the Chicago Police Department, his sister said.

Moore, 46, was an introvert, so people were surprised when they saw he was a good dancer.

“Because he was quiet people didn’t often know that about him,” she said.

Moore was more concerned for his dog and two cats than for himself when she called to check on him during his illness.

“I called him and asked him how he was feeling and he was like, ‘Oh, I’m doing OK, I’m just worried about Frank, Eddie and Ill Will,” she said, noting each has found a new and loving home.

“He was reserved and quiet but he loved, and he was loved, and he was not lonely,” she said.

Moore died Nov. 24 from a coronavirus infection. Family members were initially upset the police department hadn’t declared that Moore died in the line of duty.

The Chicago Sun-Times posted a story Friday quoting Thea Moore saying, “It’s incomprehensible why they didn’t do that for someone who worked for them for 14 years, got COVID on the job and was working overtime before he got sick. They are doing a disservice to my family.”

Later Friday, the department said it would give Moore full honors.

Autopsy results released Tuesday by the Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed Moore died from a coronavirus infection. Initial autopsy results were inconclusive.

Outside the Leak and Sons funeral home, where services were held before a small number of friends and family, police Supt. David Brown bristled when asked about the delayed decision to provide Moore with full police honors.

“Number one, it’s not the appropriate time for this discussion, outside the funeral of a police officer. We’re grieving still,” Brown said. “But I will say this, we took the normal process and we recognize this officer to the fullest extent for his sacrifice, thank you.”

Paramedics found Moore dead at his home near 94th Street and South Wabash Avenue while making a well-being check.

Moore, a field training officer in the Calumet District on the Far South Side, had been quarantining at home after he told his lieutenant he had flu-like symptoms, according to John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police. He went on medical leave Nov. 9, Catanzara said.

Moore’s casket was draped in a Chicago flag. Dozens of police vehicles participated in the funeral procession to Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park. 

Three other Chicago police officers have died of the coronavirus, all in hospitals. Before their funerals, each was deemed to have died in the line of duty. All were given full honors.

More than 1,560 Chicago police officers have tested positive for the virus.

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