Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Roy Liesveld died as a result of complications after contracting the Spanish Influenza while on duty.
He was in charge of driving the city ambulance to deliver influenza patients to and from the hospital during an outbreak in the city. Patrolman Liesveld also carried several patients to the city ambulance from their homes so they could be seen by health professionals. It was while doing this work that Patrolman Liesveld became ill and was confined to a bed. Knowing he was greatly needed, Patrolman Liesveld left his bed and went back to his post where he was taken ill again and was confined back to his bed at his home where he died of complications of the Spanish Influenza.
Patrolman Liesveld served with the Moline Police Department for three years.
Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law EnforcementAlso known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job. The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen. Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.
Also known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job.
The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen.
Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.
Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law Enforcement
The 1918 Influenza Pandemic
Patrolman Roy Charles Liesveld died on December 6, 1918 of influenza contracted in the line of duty. He was 30.
He is one of 201 officers honored here.
The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed more people worldwide than the war that preceded it. Police officers worked it without vaccines, without antibiotics, and often without masks, enforcing quarantines, transporting the sick, and standing posts in cities where the dead outpaced the undertakers.
They caught it doing the job. There was no treatment to give them.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, wife, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-C68A411A- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Roy. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
No vaccine, no antibiotics, and you stood the post anyway.
Patrolman Liesveld gave the Moline Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Moline community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Liesveld.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Roy Charles Liesveld is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 66 of 1,318 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 5% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roy Charles Liesveld's cause is highlighted.
How Roy Charles Liesveld Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Charles Liesveld is highlighted in Dec.