Roll of Honor
Charles Eckert
Incident
Location: Illinois Incident Date: Sunday, January 6, 1918 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Released in 1953
Special Officer Charles Eckert succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained four days earlier when he was shot in the Louisville and Nashville Railroad yards in East St. Louis, Illinois.
He was shot after stopping two men who were stealing coal from the railroad yards. The subject who shot him fled the scene. He was arrested in Trenton, Kentucky, by another railroad detective following an intensive eight month investigation spanning several states. The 37-year-old man was convicted of Special Officer Eckert's murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was released on February 20, 1953.
Officer Eckert, today marks the 104th anniversary of your passing due to the actions of a murderer. Your sacrifice has not been forgotten, and never will be. You are now and always will be a hero, Brother.
God Bless and may your eternal rest forever be peaceful.
Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr. Harvard University Police Department January 10th, 2022
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-RR-B9B8433E- Stewardship
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- 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 Eckert served with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Eckert.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer Charles Eckert 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Louisville and Nashville Railroad Police Department, 10 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Eckert's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Eckert Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Eckert is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Eckert was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Louisville and Nashville Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
