Roll of Honor
John W. Kamphouse
Incident
Police Officer John Kamphouse was shot and killed by train car thieves in the Proviso yards in Chicago, Illinois. Officer Kamphouse had left a note for Officer Robert Spielman, brother of Officer Edward Spielman, killed in the line of duty on April 9th, 1912, that dangerous-looking men had been in the rail yards on his shift. Officer Kamphouse was last seen preparing to make his final rounds before going home but failed to report for work the following day. After Officer Kamphouse's wife reported that he had never come home from work the previous evening, a search was begun. An hour later, a railroad employee found Officer Kamphouse dead of a single gunshot wound to the head on the north side of the yard. Officer Kamphouse had served with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department for two years and previously served as a marshal in Maywood, Illinois, for 15 years. He was survived by his wife and son. Officer Kamphouse was a brother-in-law of Officer Edward Spielman, who was shot and killed less than 200 feet away in the same yards six months earlier.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-3E751F35- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Police Officer Kamphouse gave the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kamphouse.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John W. Kamphouse 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 Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department, 14 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Kamphouse's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Kamphouse Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Kamphouse is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Kamphouse was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
