Roll of Honor

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Patrol Officer

Kenneth R. Dawson

Wheeling Police Department — Wheeling, IL

Felonious

End of Watch November 5, 1985

Age 42

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Badge 123

The Vigil Panel 130 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Patrol Officer Kenneth Dawson was shot and killed while responding to a burglary call on Cleo Court at 7:30 pm. The suspect was convicted of murder, attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping, and armed robbery, and sentenced to death. On January 11, 2003, the outgoing governor granted clemency to all 167 Illinois death row inmates as one of his last acts in office. The inmate's sentence was commuted to life without parole. Officer Dawson had served with the Wheeling Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-6EF176CE
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrol Officer Dawson gave the Wheeling Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wheeling community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Dawson.

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

Agency

Department Wheeling Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Wheeling, Cook County, IL

Platform Identity wheepd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 5, 1985

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 42

Badge Number 123

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrol Officer Kenneth R. Dawson is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 10 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Wheeling Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Wheeling Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kenneth R. Dawson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,095 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How Kenneth R. Dawson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth R. Dawson is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kenneth R. Dawson was killed by gun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Wheeling Police Department are honored on badge.nw.