Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Kentucky Weapon: Person Offender: Died in prison in 1961
Special Agent Jess Anderson was beaten to death as he attempted to arrest a man who was breaking into a boxcar between 13th Street and 14th Street, in Louisville, Kentucky.
He suffered a fractured skull in the assault before the subject stole his service revolver and belonging and then placed his body on the railroad tracks. His body was run over by a train a short time later.
The 42-year-old man who murdered him was arrested in Youngstown, Ohio in March 1951. He was returned to Louisville, confessed to the murder, and was sentenced to life. He died in prison of tuberculosis on September 10, 1961.
Special Agent Anderson had served with the Illinois Central Railroad Police for 25 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and five siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-B952C700- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Special Agent Anderson gave the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Anderson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Jess Anderson 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. Jess Anderson's cause is highlighted.
How Jess Anderson Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison in 1961
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jess Anderson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jess Anderson was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Illinois Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
