Corwin Lynn McConkey
Agency patch
Sergeant

Corwin Lynn McConkey

Illinois State Police — Springfield, IL
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch March 8, 1951
Age 32
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Badge 39
The Vigil Panel 87 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Corwin McConkey succumbed to gunshot wounds he received on February 24, 1951, during a traffic stop near Cisco, Illinois. While he was examining the man's license, the man suddenly produced a handgun and shot Sergeant McConkey in the abdomen and chest. Although seriously wounded, Sergeant McConkey was able to return fire at the fleeing car. He was taken to John Warner Hospital in Clinton, where he succumbed to his wounds two weeks later. The suspect escaped but committed suicide two days later. Sergeant McConkey was a United States Navy World War II veteran and had served with the Illinois State Police for ten years, assigned to District 10.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-60E7CB07
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 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.
Sergeant McConkey gave the Illinois State Police 10 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

Location Springfield, IL
Platform Identity ilsp.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 8, 1951
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

Corwin Lynn McConkey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Corwin Lynn McConkey is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Illinois State Police, 17 of 67 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.

Illinois State Police
17
of 67 officers
25.4% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Corwin Lynn McConkey's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Corwin Lynn McConkey Compares

Age at End of Watch
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Corwin Lynn McConkey is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Corwin Lynn McConkey was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location