Victor C. Benner

Illinois Central Railroad Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch December 7, 1911

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Location: Tennessee Weapon: Handgun Offender: Never prosecuted

Special Policeman Victor Benner and Deputy Marshal Dillaway, of the United States Marshals Service, were shot and killed while riding on a switch engine in Memphis, Tennessee.

The two officers, along with another deputy marshal were traveling south from the McLemore Yards to the Nonconnah Yards. When the engine reached Horn Lake Road it stopped so the conductor could throw a switch in the track.

Several other railroad guards were near the scene and had been drinking. They saw the three men on the switch engine, and believing they were trespassers, opened fire. Special Policeman Benner was struck in the neck and killed instantly. The two deputy marshals returned fire, wounding two of the guards before Deputy Marshal Dillaway was struck in the chest. He succumbed to his wounds seven days later.

None of the drunk guards were prosecuted for either murder.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-5B684185
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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 Policeman Benner 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, Special Policeman Benner.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Illinois Central Railroad Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity icrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 7, 1911

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Never prosecuted

Special Policeman Victor C. Benner 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.

Illinois Central Railroad Police Department

of 12 officers

83.3% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious