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Incident
Sergeant Eilers was shot and killed with his own service weapon after stopping a vehicle for having a dangling license plate. Unbeknownst to Sergeant Eilers, the two brothers in the car, ages 21 and 17, had just committed a burglary at a high school two counties away. The suspects attacked him, beat him, and then shot him with his own weapon. One of the suspects drove the patrol car to a rock quarry 20 miles away where he planned to dump the car and the officer's body into the 100-foot deep water. He had to abandon the car when he failed to crash through a gate, and the car became tangled in the wire mesh. A short time later the patrol car was discovered by a passing motorist. When the suspect took the patrol car, he accidentally ran into the back of his own car knocking off the license plate. Police found the plate which led to the brother's arrest the next day. The 21-year-old suspect had recently been paroled from the Wisconsin State Reformatory after serving two years for burglary. He was convicted of Sergeant Eilers' murder and sentenced to life in prison on September 25, 1962. He was paroled in 1976. In 1982 he was returned to the Wisconsin Penitentiary following a burglary conviction. On September 19, 1988, he escaped from McNaughton Correctional Institute. A year later he was captured in Nevada after his case aired on the TV show "America's Most Wanted." A judge ordered that his 17-year-old brother was to be tried as a juvenile. Sergeant Eilers was an Army Rangers World War II Purple Heart veteran and served with the Burlington Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Eilers served with the Burlington Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Burlington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Anthony G. Eilers served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Burlington Police Department has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Anthony is one of 159 officers killed feloniously in WI, 50% of the 318 remembered there.
Anthony is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Anthony is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1962, 1 officer in WI was killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 89 years on record. The heaviest was 1917, with 11.
In 1962, 67 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 107th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1962, 67 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 116th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Anthony was 39. Of the 141 killed feloniously in WI whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 38.
Anthony was 39. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Anthony was 39. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
February holds 4.4% of these deaths in WI; November holds the most, 11.9%. Mondays: 13.8%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at Burlington Police Department. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 318 deaths in WI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 3.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
Burlington Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Anthony among them.
Where
Military Service
Anthony G. Eilers served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Anthony G. Eilers’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Burlington Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
