Arthur H. Bassett

Rockford Police Dept. — Rockford, IL

Felonious

End of Watch September 22, 1927

Age 29

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 52

The Vigil Panel 54 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Patrol Officer Arthur Bassett was shot and killed during a disturbance while he was off duty. He was riding in his vehicle with his girlfriend, having turned onto Michigan Avenue from South Central Avenue, when another vehicle pulled in behind them. The four male occupants of the vehicle began yelling at Officer Bassett and his girlfriend before the males ordered the female companion into the rear of Officer Bassett's vehicle with the threat of being shot. Officer Bassett exited his vehicle with his weapon and a gunbattle took place, resulting in Officer Bassett being shot through the heart. Officer Bassett was able to return fire, striking at least one of the suspects who was then carried away from the scene by the other suspects. Officer Bassett died at the scene and the four suspects were never apprehended. Officer Bassett had served with the Rockford Police Department for three years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-485D8327
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.
Patrol Officer Bassett gave the Rockford Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rockford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Bassett.

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

Agency

Department Rockford Police Dept.

Location Rockford, IL

Platform Identity rockfordpd.winnebago.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 22, 1927

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 29

Badge Number 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Never apprehended

Patrol Officer Arthur H. Bassett 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 Rockford Police Dept., 7 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 87.5% of this agency's fallen.

Rockford Police Dept.

of 8 officers

87.5% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious