John Steckenrider
Agency patch
Marshal

John Steckenrider

Christopher Police Department — Christopher, IL
Felonious
End of Watch August 11, 1911
Age 39
The Vigil Panel 25 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal John Steckenrider was shot and killed by a prisoner who had just been ordered to be held in jail by a judge.

The man had been arrested for attempted murder for a shooting that occurred earlier in the evening. Marshal Steckenrider took the man to the courthouse and summoned the judge for a late-night hearing. When the judge ordered the man held, the subject drew a revolver and shot the judge in the arm. Marshal Steckenrider began to draw his weapon but was shot twice in the chest and killed.

Another officer shot and killed the subject.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service (Retired) September 16th, 2024

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-5A042B85
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Marshal Steckenrider served with the Christopher Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Christopher community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Steckenrider.

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

Agency

Location Christopher, IL
Platform Identity cpd.franklin.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 11, 1911
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and killed

Marshal John Steckenrider is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Christopher Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Steckenrider's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John Steckenrider Compares

Age at End of Watch
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Steckenrider is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Steckenrider was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location