Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Illinois Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Shot and killed
Chief Watchman Cyrus Van Sickle was shot and killed in the Illinois Central Railroad yards near South Water Street, in Chicago, Illinois.
He confronted a man behind a warehouse in the freight yards near the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. During the encounter the two exchanged shots and both were fatally wounded.
Chief Watchman Van Sickle was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Chief Watchman Van Sickle was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-3AF08308- 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.
Chief Van Sickle served with the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Van Sickle.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Cyrus E. Van Sickle 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 Illinois Central Railroad Police Department, 10 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cyrus E. Van Sickle's cause is highlighted.
How Cyrus E. Van Sickle Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cyrus E. Van Sickle is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Cyrus E. Van Sickle was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Illinois Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
