Herman W. Ziebell
Agency patch
Lieutenant

Herman W. Ziebell

Forest Park Police Department — Forest Park, IL
Felonious
End of Watch September 30, 1946
Age 46
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 82 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Lieutenant Herman Ziebell was shot and killed behind a service station at the intersection of Des Plaines Avenue and Roosevelt Road when he and his partner interrupted a burglary in progress. The two suspects escaped when Lieutenant Ziebell's partner transported him to Oak Park Hospital. One of the suspects was arrested three weeks later, and the other was arrested in New York three months later. Both suspects were convicted of murder. One of the suspects was sentenced to 199 years, and the other was sentenced to death. On June 20, 1947, he was executed by electrocution. Lieutenant Ziebell had served with the Forest Park Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son, who became a Forest park Police officer after his father died.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-71FA79ED
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 Herman. 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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Ziebell gave the Forest Park Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Forest Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Ziebell.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Forest Park, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity fppd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 30, 1946
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Lieutenant Herman W. Ziebell 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 Forest Park Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Forest Park Police Department
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. Herman W. Ziebell's cause is highlighted.

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

How Herman W. Ziebell Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herman W. Ziebell 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. Herman W. Ziebell was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location