Trooper

Robert Jefferson McDonald

Illinois State Police — Springfield, IL
Accident
End of Watch July 10, 1930
Age 34
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Robert J. McDonald was killed in a motorcycle accident during a pursuit on Troy Road in Edwardsville. Trooper McDonald's motorcycle sideswiped another car as he was attempting to maneuver his motorcycle around another vehicle. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital. Trooper McDonald served with the Illinois State Police for one year.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Trooper McDonald gave the Illinois State Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper McDonald.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Springfield, Sangamon County, IL
Platform Identity ilsp.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 10, 1930
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Accident

Robert is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1930, 113 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 34. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Illinois State Police has 67 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Robert Jefferson McDonald

Illinois State Police · End of Watch July 10, 1930

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-W

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