Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Theophil Seyller was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a boy wanted for stealing a bicycle.
The boy's father shot Patrolman Seyller four times, killing him. On March 8, 1895, the suspect was tried and acquitted.
Patrolman Seyller had served with the Peoria Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-384F7551- 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 Theophil. 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
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Seyller gave the Peoria Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Peoria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Theophil Joseph Seyller 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 Peoria Police Dept., 9 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Theophil Joseph Seyller's cause is highlighted.
How Theophil Joseph Seyller Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Theophil Joseph Seyller is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Peoria Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
