Henry "Teddy" Frank

McLean County Sheriff's Office — Bloomington, IL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 1, 1881

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 7 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Henry Frank was shot and killed by a prisoner who was being transported within the county jail. The prisoner, who was incarcerated for horse theft, gained control of Deputy Frank's service weapon, a Colt .38-caliber revolver, from his hip pocket when he was unlocking a doorway at 6:30 pm. Deputy Frank yelled at the prisoner to stop when the first shot was fired, striking Deputy Frank in the shoulder. As Deputy Frank grabbed the prisoner, he fired four more shots, two of which struck Deputy Frank in the chest and exited his back. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Frank was able to prevent the prisoner's escape until the sheriff arrived and the prisoner surrendered. Deputy Frank was able to walk to a nearby cot to lie down where he succumbed to his wounds and died. Within two hours, a mob of over 5,000 gathered outside of the jail and demanded the prisoner be turned over to them. Despite the efforts of the sheriff and his deputies to keep the mob from entering the jail, entry was gained with two telephone poles used as battering rams. The mob had also brought a keg of gunpowder to blow up the door had they been unable to knock it down. The prisoner was taken across the street by the mob where he was hanged from a tree. Deputy Frank was a veteran of the Civil War. He was survived by his wife and daughter, and his parents and six siblings. Deputy Frank is buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington, Illinois.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter, and his parents and six siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-2271C3CC
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.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Frank served with the McLean County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bloomington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department McLean County Sheriff's Office

Location Bloomington, IL

Platform Identity mcso.mclean.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 1881

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Lynched

Military Service

Henry "Teddy" Frank served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Henry "Teddy" Frank 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 McLean County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

McLean County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious