Roll of Honor
Incident
Correctional Officer Stanley Cole, Lieutenant William Thomas and Correctional Officer Robert Conkle were killed during a riot at the Pontiac Correctional Center. Around 9:00 am, about 500 inmates were returning to their cells in the North Cell House when a riot erupted. The inmates set fire to several buildings in the complex resulting in an estimated $4 million in damages. Lieutenant Thomas and Correctional Officer Conkle were stabbed with shanks numerous times shortly after the riot began. Correctional Officer Cole was stabbed with a screwdriver. Correctional center staff and Illinois State Police troopers were able to restore order and return the inmates to their cells 11 hours later. Seventeen inmates were charged with the murders of the correctional officers, but none were convicted. Correctional Officer Cole had served with the Illinois Department of Corrections for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his son and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-A375D15D- 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
You barely got started.
Correctional Officer Cole gave the Illinois Department of Corrections 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Cole.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Stanley E. Cole 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 Illinois Department of Corrections, 27 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Stanley E. Cole's cause is highlighted.
How Stanley E. Cole Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stanley E. Cole is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stanley E. Cole was killed by edged weapon; screwdriver.
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Illinois Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
