James Michael Sauter
Agency patch
Trooper

James Michael Sauter

Illinois State Police — Springfield, IL
Accident
End of Watch March 28, 2013
Age 28
Tour of Duty 4 yrs 9 mo
The Vigil Panel 162 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper James Sauter was killed when a semi-trailer truck struck his cruiser on I-294, south of Willow Road, shortly after 11:00 p.m.

He was stopped in the left shoulder of the south-bound lanes when the semi rear-ended his cruiser, causing both vehicles to burst into flames. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On January 22nd, 2016, the tractor trailer driver was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to several felony commercial vehicle violations in connection to the crash.

Trooper Sauter had served with the Illinois State Police for five years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, and brother.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Sauter gave the Illinois State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Sauter.

— 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 March 28, 2013
Tour of Duty 4 yrs 9 mo
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James 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.

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

Time

In 2013, 56 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 28. 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. James had served 4.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.4% 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

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper James Michael Sauter

Illinois State Police · End of Watch March 28, 2013

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W

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