Incident
Location: Illinois Weapon: Rifle Offender: Never identified
Detective D.H. Kiley was shot and killed in Virden, Illinois, during an a mine strike known as the Virden Riot.
Miners employed by the Chicago-Virden Coal Company had gone on strike, which resulted in company owners hiring non-union workers from the south and transporting them to the mine via railroad. Detective Kiley was assigned to protect a railroad switch.
As a train carrying 200 non-union workers neared the railroad station in Virden, members of the strikers opened fire on it and the passengers on the train returned fire. Detective Kiley, who was standing on the street near the switch, was struck in the head and killed.
A coroner's jury determined that Detective Kiley was shot by "a person or persons unknown."
Det. Kiley, On today, the 125th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice as a Law Enforcement Officer.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol October 12th, 2023
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-RR-0E87EA66- 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
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Detective Kiley served with the Chicago and Alton Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective D. H. Kiley 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 Chicago and Alton Railroad Police Department, 6 of 6 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. D. H. Kiley's cause is highlighted.
How D. H. Kiley Compares
Offender Outcome
Never identified
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. D. H. Kiley is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. D. H. Kiley was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Chicago and Alton Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
