Patrick Shaughnessy

Springfield Police Department — Springfield, IL

Felonious

End of Watch November 7, 1888

Age 33

Badge 18

The Vigil Panel 9 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Officer Patrick Shaughnessy was shot and killed while attempting to bring an agitated patient under control at St. John's Hospital at 9:30 pm. Hospital staff had called police to assist them in bringing a patient with delirium tremens under control. As Officer Shaughnessy entered the patient's room, the man shot twice at Officer Shaughnessy, killing him. It was not known that the patient had smuggled a gun into the hospital with him. The patient jumped out of the room's window but was captured by Officer Shaughnessy's partner. Officer Shaunessy succumbed to his wounds at 5 am. The patient was charged with murder but was acquitted due to his medical condition at the time. Officer Shaughnessy had served with the Springfield Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-CF830085
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

138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Shaughnessy served with the Springfield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Springfield Police Department

Location Springfield, IL

Platform Identity spd.sangamon.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 7, 1888

Age 33

Badge Number 18

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Acquitted

Police Officer Patrick Shaughnessy 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 Springfield Police Department, 9 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90% of this agency's fallen.

Springfield Police Department

of 10 officers

90% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious