Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Cornelius Meenan was electrocuted while attempting to rescue a boy trapped behind the Rock Island Southern Railroad station. During the operation another citizen came in contact with a live electrical wire, causing him to fall against Patrolman Meenan, and in turn electrocuting him as well. Both Patrolman Meenan and the citizen died as a result. The boy was later rescued from being trapped. Patrolman Meenan had served with the Rock Island Police Department for two years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-19EFE4A3- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Meenan gave the Rock Island Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Island community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Meenan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Cornelius Meenan is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Rock Island Police Department, 4 of 9 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cornelius Meenan's cause is highlighted.
How Cornelius Meenan Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Cornelius Meenan is highlighted in May.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Rock Island Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
