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Special Agent

Virgil Lee Bensyl

Illinois State Police — Springfield, IL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 15, 1988

Age 41

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Badge 1562

The Vigil Panel 132 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 66

Incident

Special Agent Virgil Bensyl was shot and killed while he and four other agents attempted to arrest a corrections officer for conspiracy to commit murder. The agents in charge of the case decided to try to pick up the suspect by staging a motorist assist along the route he would take to work. The warden called the officer at his home and asked if he could help his niece, who was stranded near his house. Special Agent Bensyl walked up to his car, shined his flashlight, and announced himself. The assailant immediately drew a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and fired two or three shots. One shot hit Agent Bensyl in the chest and killed him instantly. Agent Bensysl was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and joined the Illinois State Police on July 14, 1969. He served in District 10 - Pesotum until 1984 when he graduated from New Agents Class #4. He was then assigned to Zone 10, where he remained until his death. Agent Bensyl was survived by his wife and son. On April 29, 1988, District 10 Headquarters was re-dedicated in honor of Special Agent Virgil Lee Bensyl.

Survivors

Agent Bensyl was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-A1976F60
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Virgil is one person.

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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 Agent Bensyl gave the Illinois State Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Illinois State Police

Type State Police

Location Springfield, IL

Platform Identity ilsp.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1988

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 41

Badge Number 1562

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Virgil Lee Bensyl served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Special Agent Virgil Lee Bensyl is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Illinois State Police, 17 of 67 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.

Illinois State Police

of 67 officers

25.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious