Layton T. Davis

Illinois State Police — Springfield, IL

Veteran → Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch March 18, 1976

Age 50

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 66

Incident

Trooper Layton Davis was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on I-57 near Effingham. Unbeknownst to him, the vehicle contained two escaped convicts. During the stop, one of the escapees slipped a .357 caliber revolver into his waistband. As Trooper Davis frisked him, he spotted the revolver, and a struggle ensued. The second man ran up and held Trooper Davis down as the other man shot him. Both escapees were apprehended and sentenced to 100+ years in prison. In 2020, the accomplice was released on parole. In 2022, the gunman was released on medical parole. Trooper Davis was a United States WWII veteran and had served with the Illinois State Police for 19 years, assigned to District 12.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-A6F9EC3F
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 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.
Trooper Davis gave the Illinois State Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois, 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 Illinois State Police

Type State Police

Location Springfield, IL

Platform Identity ilsp.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 18, 1976

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Layton T. Davis served in the U.S. Army (1944â1946) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Layton T. Davis 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 97,759 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 Illinois State Police, 17 of 67 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.

Illinois State Police

of 67 officers

25.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious