Roll of Honor
William Urban Sprous
Incident
Special Agent W. Urban Sprous was shot and killed at Cairo Junction, Illinois, while attempting to arrest a man who was trespassing in a freight train boxcar.
Agent Sprous' pistol fell from its holster as the two struggled. The man picked up the gun and shot him in the arm and head, killing him. The subject was arrested several hours later at a nearby farm. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one to 13 years in prison.
Agent Sprouse had served with the Illinois Central Railroad for approximately five years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-1610B66F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Sprous gave the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Sprous.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent William Urban Sprous 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 Illinois Central Railroad Police Department, 10 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Urban Sprous's cause is highlighted.
How William Urban Sprous Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Urban Sprous is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Urban Sprous was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Illinois Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
