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Incident
Location: Kentucky Weapon: Person Offender: Died in prison in 1961
Special Agent Jess Anderson was beaten to death as he attempted to arrest a man who was breaking into a boxcar between 13th Street and 14th Street, in Louisville, Kentucky.
He suffered a fractured skull in the assault before the subject stole his service revolver and belonging and then placed his body on the railroad tracks. His body was run over by a train a short time later.
The 42-year-old man who murdered him was arrested in Youngstown, Ohio in March 1951. He was returned to Louisville, confessed to the murder, and was sentenced to life. He died in prison of tuberculosis on September 10, 1961.
Special Agent Anderson had served with the Illinois Central Railroad Police for 25 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and five siblings.
In Our Keeping
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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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Tributes
25 years. You could have gone home.
Special Agent Anderson gave the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Anderson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Illinois Central Railroad Police Department has lost 12 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Jess is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Jess is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Jess 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 1950, 1 officer at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1936, with 2.
In 1950, 4 officers in IL were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 22.
In 1950, 66 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1950, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Jess was 52. Of the 9 killed feloniously at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 36; the middle age was 35. Jess had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Jess was 52. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38. Jess had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jess was 52. 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. Jess had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jess was 52. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Jess had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 20% of these deaths at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department; February holds the most, 20%. Mondays: 20%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Mondays: 14.4%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 83.3% of all 12 deaths at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 20% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2.9% 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 person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
Illinois Central Railroad Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Jess among them.
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Matthew E. McGrath
Aug 8, 1903
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Victor C. Benner Dec 7, 1911
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Cyrus E. Van Sickle Feb 11, 1916
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Louis Edward Baum Jul 27, 1927
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Joseph J. Kucera, Jr. Apr 29, 1929
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Christopher O. McClure Feb 17, 1931
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Frank M. Bolen
Apr 26, 1933
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Richard Kelly May 30, 1935
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Roy Dale Zearfoss
Jul 17, 1936
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William Urban Sprous Sep 13, 1936
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John Ben Merz Oct 11, 1949
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Jess Anderson
Sep 11, 1950
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Illinois Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
