Anton H. Cramer
Agency patch
Patrolman

Anton H. Cramer

Rock Island Police Department — Rock Island, IL
Felonious
End of Watch February 14, 1936
Age 46
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 71 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Anton Cramer succumbed to wounds suffered one month earlier after he and four other officers went to a man's home to arrest him for robbery. Three of the officers woke the man and his wife up in their room. As the suspect put on a pair of shoes the wife suddenly slammed the door separating the two from the officers. When the door was reopened the man opened fire, wounding Patrolman Cramer. He then exited the room holding his wife in front of him as a shield. Other officers eventually returned fire, killing the suspect. Patrolman Cramer had served with the Rock Island Police Department for seven years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-E047FCA9
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Cramer gave the Rock Island Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Island community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cramer.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Rock Island, Rock Island County, IL
Platform Identity ripd.rockisland.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 14, 1936
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman Anton H. Cramer is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 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 10 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Rock Island Police Department, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Rock Island Police Department
5
of 9 officers
55.6% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,559
of 32,586 officers
53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Anton H. Cramer's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,559 (53.9%)
Accident
10,094 (31%)
Illness
3,037 (9.3%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
334 (1%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)

How Anton H. Cramer Compares

Age at End of Watch
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Anton H. Cramer is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Anton H. Cramer was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909