Roll of Honor
Will C. Reed
Incident
Location: Kansas Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Sentenced to 40 years
Chief Special Agent Will Reed was shot and killed at 3:00 am while searching for three men who had reportedly burglarized a freight car in Elbing, Kansas.
He and his partner received word that the suspects had boarded a train heading to the railroad yards in North Wichita, Kansas. The officers waited for the train to arrive and began searching for the suspects.
The men hid in nearby weeds but were observed by the officers. As the officers approached the suspects opened fire, fatally wounding Agent Reed. His partner returned fire but did not strike the suspects. All three suspects were apprehended several hours later.
Agent Reed's killer, age 30, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years. The other two, 17 and 38, were both convicted of manslaughter. The 17-year-old was sentenced to 5 to 20 years and the other to two years.
Agent Reed was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Agent Reed was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-86112FDA- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief Special Agent Reed served with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Island community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Special Agent Reed.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Special Agent Will C. Reed 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 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department, 13 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Will C. Reed's cause is highlighted.
How Will C. Reed Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Will C. Reed is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Will C. Reed was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
