Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Tom Dodsworth was shot and killed and the police chief was seriously wounded while attempting to arrest two bootlegging suspects at a notorious resort on Market Street near the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway tracks. which resulted in one suspect being killed and the other being wounded. Sergeant Dodsworth and the chief went to a bootlegger's home to arrest him. The chief entered the home and moments later Sergeant Dodsworth, who was standing guard outside, heard two gunshots. He entered to find the police chief in a desperate struggle with the suspect. He managed to pull the suspect off of the chief, but the man shot Sergeant Dodsworth three times. The police chief managed to retrieve his revolver, which he had lost during the struggle, and fatally shot the man. He then shot and wounded a second bootlegger who ran in and tried to attack him. Sergeant Dodsworth died at the scene. The two shots he heard were fired by the deceased suspect and had badly mangled the chief's shoulder. Sergeant Dodsworth was credited with saving his chief's life. The second suspect was convicted of complicity in the murder and sentenced to eight years in prison. Sergeant Dodsworth had served with the Champaign Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-E410799F- 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.
Sergeant Dodsworth gave the Champaign Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Champaign community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Dodsworth.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Thomas Dodsworth 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 Champaign Police Department, 3 of 3 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. Thomas Dodsworth's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Dodsworth Compares
Offender Outcome
One killed, one wounded
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Dodsworth is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Dodsworth was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Champaign Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
