Omer Earl Davenport

Wabash Railway Police Department — St. Louis, MI

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 9, 1935

Age 39

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 70 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Special Agent Omer Davenport was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend two men who were hopping onto a passenger train in the Wabash rail yards in Decatur, Illinois. The two suspects fled after shooting him. He was taken to the Wabash Employees Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspects were never identified or apprehended. Special Agent Davenport had served with the Wabash Railway Police Department for six years and as chief of police of the Decatur Police Department for four years, while simultaneously serving as a deputy sheriff with the Macon County Sheriff's Department. He was also a WWI veteran, commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve at war's end. Upon his return home, he was appointed a captain in the Illinois National Guard where he commanded an infantry company at the Herron Massacre and, as a major, commanded a battalion during the Sangamon County Mine War, both extended martial law actions.

Survivors

Special Agent Davenport was survived by his wife, five young children, and his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-C2434C04
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.
Special Agent Davenport gave the Wabash Railway Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis 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 Wabash Railway Police Department

Location St. Louis, MI

Platform Identity wrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1935

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Never identified

Military Service

Omer Earl Davenport served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Special Agent Omer Earl Davenport 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wabash Railway Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Wabash Railway Police Department

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious