Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Illinois Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Shot and killed
Sergeant Jack Armstrong was shot and killed while patrolling the company's rail yards at 14th Street and Walnut Avenue in East St. Louis, Illinois, at approximately 2:00 pm.
He was attacked by four men who were on a crime spree following the murder of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sergeant Armstrong was transported to St. Mary's Hospital after the shooting where he succumbed to his wounds two hours later. The subjects stole his service revolver and used it two months later to murder Patrolman Henry Peeler of the Chicago Police Department.
Sergeant Armstrong was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII where he received three Overseas Service Bars, four Bronze Stars, the American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He had served with the Southern Railroad Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, and his mother; he was preceded in death by one son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-3CB72649- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Armstrong gave the Southern Railway Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Jack R. Armstrong served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Jack R. Armstrong 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Southern Railway Police Department, 17 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 94.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jack R. Armstrong's cause is highlighted.
How Jack R. Armstrong Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jack R. Armstrong is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jack R. Armstrong was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Southern Railway Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
