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Village Marshal

James Weiss

East Alton Police Department — East Alton, IL

Felonious

End of Watch July 6, 1898

Age 37

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 15 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Marshal James Weiss was shot and killed while investigating several men who were trespassing in the Big Four rail yard.

As Marshal Weiss spoke to the men, one of them produced a handgun and shot him in the chest, killing him. The shooting was witnessed by a local tramp and heard by a railroad worker. The worker immediately ran to the scene, but Marshal Weiss had already succumbed to his wound.

Nine suspects were eventually arrested in connection with the murder, but the tramp was unable to positively identify them as the trespassers.

Marshal Weiss had served with the East Alton Police Department for just over one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-A674DAAD
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

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Village Marshal Weiss gave the East Alton Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the East Alton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department East Alton Police Department

Location East Alton, IL

Platform Identity eapd.madison.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 6, 1898

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 2 mo

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Never identified

Village Marshal James Weiss 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%.

East Alton Police Department

of 1 officers

100% 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. James Weiss'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 James Weiss Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

1.2

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Never identified

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Weiss is highlighted in Jul.

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. James Weiss was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518