Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain John McKinstry was shot and killed while attempting to keep order at a public dance. No one knew he was murdered until December 29, 1873, when a witness could no longer keep the secret. Captain McKinstry was a US Army veteran of the Civil War and had been held as a prisoner of war by the Confederate Army.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-4690B242- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
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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.
Captain McKinstry served with the Mattoon Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mattoon 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
John McKinstry served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Captain John McKinstry 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John McKinstry's cause is highlighted.
How John McKinstry Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John McKinstry is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John McKinstry was killed by gun.
Military Service
John McKinstry served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit John McKinstry’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Mattoon Police Department are honored on badge.nw.