Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Ross G. Hester

Vermilion County Sheriff's Office — Danville, IL

Felonious

End of Watch March 10, 1927

Age 46

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ross Hester was shot and killed as he, the sheriff, and three other deputies attempted to take a mentally ill person into emergency custody.

As the deputies entered the home the man opened fire with two pistols, shooting Deputy Hester six times. Another deputy returned fire and killed the subject.

Deputy Hester was survived by several siblings.

Survivors

Deputy Hester was survived by several siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-BEF628B2
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.
Deputy Sheriff Hester served with the Vermilion County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Danville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hester.

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

Agency

Department Vermilion County Sheriff's Office

Location Danville, IL

Platform Identity vcso.vermilion.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 10, 1927

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Ross G. Hester 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 Vermilion County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Vermilion County Sheriff's Office

of 2 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. Ross G. Hester'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 Ross G. Hester Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ross G. Hester is highlighted in Mar.

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. Ross G. Hester was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Vermilion County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.