Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Christian Peter was electrocuted while checking a street lamp at Sixth and Spring streets. At 7:45 pm, Patrolman Peter was attempting to get an electric-arc street lamp to burn by shaking the steel chain used to raise and lower the lamp. Although the chain was normally harmless, an apparent short circuit occurred causing 4,000 volts of electricity to charge the chain electrocuting Patrolman Peter. He was attended to by a physician at the scene and transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital where he died. Patrolman Peter had served with the Belleville Police Department for three years.
Patrolman Christian Peter was electrocuted while checking a street lamp at Sixth and Spring streets.
At 7:45 pm, Patrolman Peter was attempting to get an electric-arc street lamp to burn by shaking the steel chain used to raise and lower the lamp. Although the chain was normally harmless, an apparent short circuit occurred causing 4,000 volts of electricity to charge the chain electrocuting Patrolman Peter. He was attended to by a physician at the scene and transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital where he died.
Patrolman Peter had served with the Belleville Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, three daughters, two brothers, five sisters and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-34D67507- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Peter gave the Belleville Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Belleville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Peter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Christian E. Peter is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Belleville Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Christian E. Peter's cause is highlighted.
How Christian E. Peter Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Christian E. Peter is highlighted in Apr.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Belleville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
