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Roy Charles Liesveld
Incident
Patrolman Roy Liesveld died as a result of complications after contracting the Spanish Influenza while on duty.
He was in charge of driving the city ambulance to deliver influenza patients to and from the hospital during an outbreak in the city. Patrolman Liesveld also carried several patients to the city ambulance from their homes so they could be seen by health professionals. It was while doing this work that Patrolman Liesveld became ill and was confined to a bed. Knowing he was greatly needed, Patrolman Liesveld left his bed and went back to his post where he was taken ill again and was confined back to his bed at his home where he died of complications of the Spanish Influenza.
Patrolman Liesveld served with the Moline Police Department for three years.
Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law EnforcementAlso known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job. The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen. Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.
Also known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job.
The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen.
Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.
Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law Enforcement
The 1918 Influenza Pandemic
Patrolman Roy Charles Liesveld died on December 6, 1918 of influenza contracted in the line of duty. He was 30.
He is one of 201 officers honored here.
The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed more people worldwide than the war that preceded it. Police officers worked it without vaccines, without antibiotics, and often without masks, enforcing quarantines, transporting the sick, and standing posts in cities where the dead outpaced the undertakers.
They caught it doing the job. There was no treatment to give them.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, wife, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Roy is one person.
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Tributes
No vaccine, no antibiotics, and you stood the post anyway.
Patrolman Liesveld gave the Moline Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Moline community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Liesveld.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Roy is the only officer of Moline Police Department remembered here.
Roy is one of 66 officers lost to illness in IL, 5% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Roy is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Roy is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1918, 16 officers in IL were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 1918, 226 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 1918, 235 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Roy was 30. Of the 66 lost to illness in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 51; the middle age was 45.5. Roy had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 13.2 years.
Roy was 30. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Roy had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Roy was 30. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Roy had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
December holds 7.6% of these deaths in IL; January holds the most, 19.7%. Fridays: 13.6%.
December holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
December holds 9.6% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Moline Police Department.
Illness deaths account for 5% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Moline Police Department are honored on badge.nw.