Joseph Rosenfield

Rock Island Police Department — Rock Island, IL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 12, 1879

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Rosenfield was beaten to death while attempting to disperse a group of rowdy men on the corner of 18th Street and 6th Avenue. When Patrolman Rosenfield approached the men, he was attacked and beaten to death. Four men were apprehended and charged with murder. Two suspects were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. One was paroled in 1893. In 1890 the other man's sentence was reduced to 20 years. When a prison official told him he was about to get out he dropped dead right in front of him. One of the other two was sentenced to 14 years and the other to one year. Patrolman Rosenfield was survived by five children by his first wife who died two years before him. He was survived by his second wife and a son. He served during the Civil War with Major Hatch's Cavalry, formed in Minnesota in 1863, which dealt with Indian uprisings in the northwest.

Survivors

Patrolman Rosenfield was survived by five children by his first wife who died two years before him. He was survived by his second wife and a son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-09A81F9F
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.
Patrolman Rosenfield served with the Rock Island Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Island 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

Department Rock Island Police Department

Location Rock Island, IL

Platform Identity ripd.rockisland.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 1879

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender Three paroled: One died in prison

Military Service

Joseph Rosenfield served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Joseph Rosenfield 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%.

At Rock Island Police Department, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Rock Island Police Department

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious