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Erin Marie Hehl
Agency patch
Sergeant

Erin Marie Hehl

Illinois State Police — Springfield, IL
Accident
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch October 30, 1997
Age 34
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 144 ›
Gender Female
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 66

Incident

Sergeant Erin Hehl was killed when the helicopter she was in crashed during a training exercise. Sergeant Hehl was flying with a civilian pilot at suburban Frankfort Airport in the department's helicopter known as AirOne. They were practicing touch-and-go landings when one of the skids of the A-Star Eurocopter got stuck in the mud, causing the helicopter to flip over. The civilian pilot was killed as well. Sergeant Hehl had 70 hours of flight experience, but it is unknown who was at the controls at the time of the crash. Sergeant Hehl had served with the Illinois State Police for 11 years. She is survived by her husband, son, and stepson. Sergeant Hehl was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Survivors

She is survived by her husband, son, and stepson.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Hehl gave the Illinois State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Hehl.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch October 30, 1997
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 34
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Erin is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1997, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Erin 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. Erin had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. 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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

Her people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Erin Marie Hehl

Illinois State Police · End of Watch October 30, 1997

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-E

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