Roll of Honor
Rube Tom Pollock
Incident
Location: Arkansas Incident Date: Saturday, March 3, 1934 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to 21 years
Special Officer Rube Pollock succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on March 3rd, 1934, in the railyards at Brinkley, Arkansas while investigating a fire inside of a boxcar.
He and another railroad employee had approached the boxcar and Officer Pollock went inside to investigate it. As he did so he encountered a man who opened fire on him, striking him several times. He was taken to a local hospital where he died on March 8th, 1934.
The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested in Cairo, Illinois. He was extradited back to Arkansas where he was convicted of Officer Pollock's first-degree murder and initially sentenced to death. The first-degree murder charge was reduced to second-degree murder on appeal and he was subsequently sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Officer Pollock was survived by his mother, four brothers, and two sisters.
Survivors
Officer Pollock was survived by his mother, four brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-68981436- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Rube. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Pollock served with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Island community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Pollock.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer Rube Tom Pollock 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, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department, 13 of 13 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. Rube Tom Pollock's cause is highlighted.
How Rube Tom Pollock Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 21 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rube Tom Pollock is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rube Tom Pollock was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
