Roll of Honor
James Robert Abel
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Abel was killed in an automobile crash while responding to an officer needs assistance call. His vehicle struck a patch of ice on Chain of Rocks Road, near Maryville Road, and struck a utility pole. His patrol car caught fire as a result of the impact and Deputy Abel was killed. Deputy Abel had served with the Madison County Sheriff's Office for only three months and was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, two grandchildren, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-BCCCF6CC- 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 Abel served with the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Edwardsville 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
James Robert Abel served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff James Robert Abel is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 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 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Madison County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Robert Abel's cause is highlighted.
How James Robert Abel Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Robert Abel is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Madison County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
