Roll of Honor
Patrick H. Owens
Incident
Location: Illinois Weapon: Handgun Offender: Both sentenced to life
Detective Patrick Owens was aboard a northbound freight train when it paused at about 10:00 pm at Deerfield station, in Lake County, Illinois, to take water. While the train was stopped, two robbers boarded the train by the caboose. The robbers had taken a watch from the conductor when Detective Owens entered the caboose. Both robbers shot and killed Detective Owens when he refused to surrender.
The suspects were found hiding in the coal car while the train was stopped at Mayfair early the following morning. They shot and wounded another officer as they made their escape from the train. The suspects remained at large for six hours, until a large posse of police officers and citizens caught up and a shootout ensued. Both suspects were wounded before they surrendered to police and were later sentenced to life in prison.
Detective Owens had served with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Police Department for one year after retiring from the Chicago Police Department with 20 years of service.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-E53E83EC- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Detective Owens gave the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department 21 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Patrick H. Owens is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department, 7 of 7 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. Patrick H. Owens's cause is highlighted.
How Patrick H. Owens Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick H. Owens is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick H. Owens was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
