Howard Russell Bunting
Incident
Investigator Howard Bunting and Investigator John Fletcher were killed in an automobile accident while on duty in White County. Investigator Fletcher and Investigator Bunting were traveling northbound on Illinois Route 1 heading to a district meeting. As a driver who was traveling southbound attempted to slow his vehicle, the brakes grabbed, causing his vehicle to strike the side of the officer's vehicle. Investigator Fletcher and the other driver were killed instantly and Investigator Bunting died as a result of his injuries six days later. Investigator Bunting had served with the Illinois Department of Conservation for four years.
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BO-US-IL-343ADE48- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Investigator Bunting gave the Illinois Department of Conservation 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Bunting.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Investigator Howard Russell Bunting is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 26.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement, 10 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 76.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Howard Russell Bunting's cause is highlighted.
How Howard Russell Bunting Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Howard Russell Bunting is highlighted in Feb.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement are honored on badge.nw.





