Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Police Officer Joseph Eonikos was shot and killed on East 155th Street, just east of South Halsted Street and the Grand Trunk Railroad line, while walking a prisoner to jail.
The prisoner was arrested after being involved in a fight inside a saloon near the village border with Harvey. As Officer Eonikos walked him to jail the man's friend approached them, as well as a citizen who was assisting the officer, and told them to release the man. Officer Eonikos refused and continued walking him to the village jail. The man then ran up behind Officer Eonikos and shot him in the back, causing a fatal wound.
The prisoner and the shooter both fled on food.
Officer Eonikos had served with the Phoenix Police Department as a part-time officer for just over one year.
Special Police Officer Eonikos' story was read in Richton Park Police Department's roll call on 10-6-17 to remember and honor him.
Sgt. James Galvan Richton Park Police October 6th, 2017
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BO-US-IL-69B478A1- Stewardship
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Special Police Officer Eonikos gave the Phoenix Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Police Officer Eonikos.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Police Officer Joseph Eonikos 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Eonikos's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Eonikos Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Eonikos is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Eonikos was killed by handgun.