Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Herman Ziebell was shot and killed behind a service station at the intersection of Des Plaines Avenue and Roosevelt Road when he and his partner interrupted a burglary in progress. The two suspects escaped when Lieutenant Ziebell's partner transported him to Oak Park Hospital. One of the suspects was arrested three weeks later, and the other was arrested in New York three months later. Both suspects were convicted of murder. One of the suspects was sentenced to 199 years, and the other was sentenced to death. On June 20, 1947, he was executed by electrocution. Lieutenant Ziebell had served with the Forest Park Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son, who became a Forest park Police officer after his father died.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-71FA79ED- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Ziebell gave the Forest Park Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Forest Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Ziebell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Herman W. Ziebell 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 Forest Park Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herman W. Ziebell's cause is highlighted.
How Herman W. Ziebell Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1947
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herman W. Ziebell is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herman W. Ziebell was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Forest Park Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
