Roll of Honor

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Captain

John McKinstry

Mattoon Police Department — Mattoon, IL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 22, 1868

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 3 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Captain John McKinstry was shot and killed while attempting to keep order at a public dance. No one knew he was murdered until December 29, 1873, when a witness could no longer keep the secret. Captain McKinstry was a US Army veteran of the Civil War and had been held as a prisoner of war by the Confederate Army.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-4690B242
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.
Captain McKinstry served with the Mattoon Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mattoon 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 Mattoon Police Department

Location Mattoon, IL

Platform Identity mpd.coles.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 22, 1868

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Not available

Military Service

John McKinstry served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Captain John McKinstry 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%.

Mattoon Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John McKinstry's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How John McKinstry Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John McKinstry is highlighted in Feb.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John McKinstry was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518