Roll of Honor
Charles Crill
Incident
Location: Iowa Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber Offender: Charged with murder
Special Officer Charles Crill was shot and killed and his partner was wounded in the railroad yards that were located at East 4th Street and Maple Street. They had discovered a group of 12 men breaking into a boxcar of train No. 64 and called for assistance from the Des Moines Police Department. As he and his partner, a Des Moines officer, approached the group one of the men opened fire, killing Officer Crill and wounding the other officer.
The group of men fled but the shooter and two others were recognized by the Des Moines officer. The three were arrested and charged with murder. One was the leader of a strike going on at the Ford plant.
Officer Crill was survived by his wife. His father-in-law was the Des Moines police chief.
Survivors
Officer Crill was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-5B183CCD- 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.
Special Officer Crill served with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Crill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer Charles Crill 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 Northwestern Railroad Police Department, 14 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Crill's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Crill Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Crill is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Crill was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
