Roll of Honor
Richard Bert Fordham, Sr.
Incident
Correctional Officer Richard Fordham was beaten and strangled to death after being overpowered by two inmates at the old Lee County Law Enforcement Center at 122 W. Third Street in Dixon. Both inmates were convicted of his murder and sentenced to 40 to 100 years in prison. One died in prison in December of 2011. The other inmate, who has been denied parole several times, was granted parole in 2012. Correctional Officer Fordham was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Lee County Sheriff's Office for only eight months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-CCDCAC23- 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.
Correctional Officer Fordham served with the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Dixon community, and 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
Richard Bert Fordham, Sr. served in the Navy (1959â1976) before joining law enforcement.
Correctional Officer Richard Bert Fordham, Sr. 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 Lee 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Bert Fordham, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Richard Bert Fordham, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 40-60 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Bert Fordham, Sr. is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Bert Fordham, Sr. was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lee County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
