Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Policeman Joseph Sigler succumbed to gunshot wounds he suffered four days earlier after escorting a citizen to his residence.
He and his brother were requested to escort a local garage proprietor from a saloon to his home. Upon their arrival, the resident pointed out some bullet holes that had recently been shot into his house. As they conversed in front of the residence, a neighbor and the homeowner's wife joined them and the officer's brother left to walk home. Shortly after this, at about 2:45 am, the four were fired upon in the darkness, seriously injuring Special Policeman Sigler and the neighbor. The neighbor died later in the day from his injuries.
Special Policeman Sigler was struck in the back near his shoulder where the bullet lodged in his spine, causing paralysis. He succumbed to his injuries four days later at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.
Those responsible for the murders were never apprehended, but it was suspected the ambush occurred due to an ongoing dispute between two rival labor unions seeking control of the local coal mine employees.
Special Policeman Sigler had served with the Bulpitt Police Department for several months and was a US Army veteran of WWI.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, three sons, four sisters and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-9B71A381- 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 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.
Special Policeman Sigler served with the Bulpitt Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bulpitt community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph Antone Sigler served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Policeman Joseph Antone Sigler 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Antone Sigler's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Antone Sigler Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Antone Sigler is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Antone Sigler was killed by gun; unknown type.