Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Charles Gillin was accidentally shot and killed by another officer when he and several officers responded to a prisoner riot at the Linn County Jail in Marion, Iowa. One of Iowa's most notorious criminals, who was in jail for blowing a bank safe, threw a bottle of nitroglycerin against the wall in his cell, blowing out part of the wall. As the officers entered the jail, one officer opened fire with an automatic rifle, striking Officer Gillin and another officer as the inmate threw what he thought was another bottle of nitroglycerin at the officers. Luckily, he picked up the wrong bottle. It was later discovered that one of the inmate's gang members had smuggled three bottles of nitroglycerin to him. The inmate was convicted of numerous crimes and sentenced to 35 years in prison. On June 11th, 1913, he escaped. In 1914, he was located in California at San Quentin Prison, where he was serving a three-year sentence for burglary under an assumed name. In 1917, as the inmate was being returned to Iowa, he escaped again by jumping from the train. Several days later, he was recaptured and returned to prison in Iowa. Officer Gillin had served with the Cedar Rapids Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-865CF5C7- 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.
Police Officer Gillin gave the Cedar Rapids Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cedar Rapids community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gillin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Charles P. Gillin is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IA, 71 of 226 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.4% of this state's fallen. That is 31.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Cedar Rapids Police Department, 3 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles P. Gillin's cause is highlighted.
How Charles P. Gillin Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles P. Gillin is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Cedar Rapids Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
