Charles E. Dillon
Agency patch
Special Officer

Charles E. Dillon

Felonious
End of Watch November 20, 1902
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 18 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Officer Charles Dillon was shot and killed while arresting a railroad employee who had been stealing merchandise at 2:30 am from the rail yard on California Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. An employee had informed Officer Dillon that a seal had been broken on one of the freight cars. After inspecting the car Officer Dillon hid underneath it to wait for the suspect to return. When the man returned Officer Dillon grabbed him from behind and told him he was under arrest. When the man turned around he shot Officer Dillon in the head, killing him. He then shot him in the head three more times before fleeing. He was arrested a short time later and confessed to the murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison.

Survivors

Officer Dillon was survived by his wife, son, mother and four brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-C24AFBC4
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Dillon served with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Dillon.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, IL
Platform Identity cnrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 20, 1902
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Special Officer Charles E. Dillon is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department, 14 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department
14
of 18 officers
77.8% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles E. Dillon's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Charles E. Dillon Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles E. Dillon is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles E. Dillon was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location