Herbert Coryell
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Herbert Coryell

Felonious
End of Watch September 4, 1930
Age 45
Tour of Duty 3 mo
The Vigil Panel 60 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Herbert Coryell was shot and killed as he and a local constable attempted to arrest a bootlegger at a still near Sandusky. The suspect shot Deputy Coryell in the head, killing him.

On April 11, 1931, the suspect pled guilty to manufacturing liquor and was sentenced to 18 months. He was acquitted of murder.

Deputy Coryell had served with the Alexander County Sheriff's Office for only three months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-C7F42AE2
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Herbert. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Coryell served with the Alexander County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Cairo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Coryell.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Cairo, Alexander County, IL
Platform Identity acso.alexander.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 4, 1930
Tour of Duty 3 mo
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Herbert Coryell 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 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 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Alexander County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Alexander County Sheriff's Office
3
of 4 officers
75% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herbert Coryell's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Herbert Coryell Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herbert Coryell is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909