Joseph H. Grant
Agency patch
Constable

Joseph H. Grant

Geneva Police Department — Geneva, IL
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch August 28, 1885
Age 55
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable Joseph Grant and Officer John McNett were shot and killed while transporting three burglary suspects to jail.

While the officers escorted the suspects, the men shot and killed both officers.

In 1899 a convict in Minnesota confessed to killing Officer Helms of Kansas, Officers Grant and McNett of Illinois, a woman in Geneva, Illinois and shooting a policeman in Guide Rock, Nebraska.

Constable Grant had served with the Geneva Police Department for two years. He was a Civil War Veteran who served as a private with the 34th Massachusetts Infantry, Company A.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-8E2BEF6D
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Constable Grant gave the Geneva Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Geneva community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Geneva, IL
Platform Identity gpd.kane.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 28, 1885
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 55
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Military Service

Joseph H. Grant served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Constable Joseph H. Grant 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 Geneva 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.

Geneva Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph H. Grant's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Joseph H. Grant Compares

Age at End of Watch
55
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph H. Grant is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Geneva Police Department are honored on badge.nw.