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
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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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 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 Peoria Police Department, 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 Department are honored on badge.nw.
