Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman George Daugherty was shot and killed while chasing a man he erroneously suspected of being a burglar near the corner of Greenwood Street and Ridge Avenue. As a father and teenage son were going duck hunting at 2:30 am, the man was carrying a box of duck decoys that Patrolman Daugherty mistakenly took to be a box of stolen goods. He ordered the two to halt, but both subjects began to run in opposite directions. Patrolman Daugherty took up the chase, then fired a warning shot alongside the fleeing man. The man returned fire with a shotgun, fatally wounding Patrolman Daugherty who died later that evening. The suspect was tried for murder, but after testimony from both the father and son that they had mistaken Patrolman Daugherty and his partner for robbers in the darkness, the father was acquitted. Patrolman Daugherty had served with the Evanston Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-8CDC5092- 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
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Daugherty gave the Evanston Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Evanston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman George W. Daugherty 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 Evanston Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George W. Daugherty's cause is highlighted.
How George W. Daugherty Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George W. Daugherty is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George W. Daugherty was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Evanston Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
