Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Carl Besalki succumbed to a gunshot wound suffered four days earlier while investigating suspicious activity at the Wabash Railroad depot near Cerro Gordo Street.
While on patrol he heard voices coming from an open boxcar. As he entered the boxcar to investigate, one of the men opened fire with a .32-caliber revolver, striking Officer Besalki in the abdomen. He was taken to a local hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wounds.
Before dying, Officer Besalki was able to identify the 22-year-old shooter. The man was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled on December 24th, 1943.
Officer Besalki had served with the Decatur Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-99C15042- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Besalki gave the Decatur Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Decatur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Besalki.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Carl Besalki 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 Decatur 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. Carl Besalki's cause is highlighted.
How Carl Besalki Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1943
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carl Besalki is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Carl Besalki was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Decatur Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
