Roll of Honor
Incident
Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis was shot and killed while off duty by a suspect who had been incarcerated at the Pontiac Correctional Center, where he was the assistant warden. The suspect saw Assistant Warden Willis leaving a bar in Chicago, walked up to him, and shot him. The suspect was twice found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. On February 19, 1999, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed his conviction outright on the grounds of insufficient evidence, exonerating the suspect who was released from prison. The governor granted an absolute pardon on August 1, 2002. Assistant Warden Willis had served with the Illinois Department of Corrections for 19 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-616294DE- 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.
Assistant Warden Willis gave the Illinois Department of Corrections 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Warden Willis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis, Jr. 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 Illinois Department of Corrections, 27 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Virdeen Willis, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Virdeen Willis, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Exonerated in 1999
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Virdeen Willis, Jr. is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Virdeen Willis, Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Illinois Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
