Roll of Honor
George V. Darnell
Incident
Deputy George Darnell was shot and killed when he interrupted several suspects stealing fuel at a service facility on U.S. 67 near Monmouth. The suspects were loading fuel into their own tanker truck from the service facility tanks. As Deputy Darnell attempted to arrest the suspects, he was ambushed by one of them and shot several times in the head and chest. The suspect was convicted of Deputy Darnell's murder and sentenced to 70 years in prison. He was released on parole in November 2017. Deputy Darnell was a United States Army veteran of World War II and had served with the Warren County Sheriff's Department for 10 years and the Warren County Sheriff's Auxiliary for seven years. He was survived by his wife and four children. In 2014, a section of Highway 67 near the shooting scene was named in honor of Deputy George Darnell.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-6C288DC6- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Darnell gave the Warren County Sheriff's Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Monmouth community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
George V. Darnell served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff George V. Darnell 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George V. Darnell's cause is highlighted.
How George V. Darnell Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 70 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George V. Darnell is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George V. Darnell was killed by gun; unknown type.