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Special Agent

Virgil Lee Bensyl

Illinois State Police — Springfield, IL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 15, 1988

Age 41

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Badge 1562

The Vigil Panel 294 · Column 4 · Line 3 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 66

Incident

Special Agent Virgil Bensyl was shot and killed while he and four other agents attempted to arrest a corrections officer for conspiracy to commit murder. The agents in charge of the case decided to try to pick up the suspect by staging a motorist assist along the route he would take to work. The warden called the officer at his home and asked if he could help his niece, who was stranded near his house. Special Agent Bensyl walked up to his car, shined his flashlight, and announced himself. The assailant immediately drew a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and fired two or three shots. One shot hit Agent Bensyl in the chest and killed him instantly. Agent Bensysl was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and joined the Illinois State Police on July 14, 1969. He served in District 10 - Pesotum until 1984 when he graduated from New Agents Class #4. He was then assigned to Zone 10, where he remained until his death. Agent Bensyl was survived by his wife and son. On April 29, 1988, District 10 Headquarters was re-dedicated in honor of Special Agent Virgil Lee Bensyl.

Survivors

Agent Bensyl was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship: 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 salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Virgil is one person.

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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.
Special Agent Bensyl gave the Illinois State Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Illinois State Police

Type State Police

Location Springfield, Sangamon County, IL

Platform Identity ilsp.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1988

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 41

Badge Number 1562

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Virgil Lee Bensyl served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1966â1969) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Virgil is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Virgil was 41. 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. Virgil had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded