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Charles Crill
Incident
Location: Iowa Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber Offender: Charged with murder
Special Officer Charles Crill was shot and killed and his partner was wounded in the railroad yards that were located at East 4th Street and Maple Street. They had discovered a group of 12 men breaking into a boxcar of train No. 64 and called for assistance from the Des Moines Police Department. As he and his partner, a Des Moines officer, approached the group one of the men opened fire, killing Officer Crill and wounding the other officer.
The group of men fled but the shooter and two others were recognized by the Des Moines officer. The three were arrested and charged with murder. One was the leader of a strike going on at the Ford plant.
Officer Crill was survived by his wife. His father-in-law was the Des Moines police chief.
Survivors
Officer Crill was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Special Officer Crill served with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Crill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department has lost 18 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Charles is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1917, 2 officers at Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 3.
In 1917, 18 officers in IL were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 22.
In 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1917, 169 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Charles was 43. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 37. Charles had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 5.5 years.
Charles was 43. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 43. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 43. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 7.1% of these deaths at Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department; November holds the most, 21.4%. Saturdays: 14.3%.
March holds 5.2% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Saturdays: 15.8%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 77.8% of all 18 deaths at Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 7.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 0.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 0.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 0.7% of these deaths.
His people
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department has 18 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
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Dennis E. Riley Dec 21, 1898
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Charles E. Dillon
Nov 20, 1902
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Edward L. Spielman Apr 9, 1912
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John W. Kamphouse Nov 1, 1912
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Cornelius E. Cross
Jan 21, 1917
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Charles Crill
Mar 17, 1917
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Hugh J. Ennis Mar 28, 1921
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Maurice Leahy, Jr.
Jul 29, 1921
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Louis A. Gustafson Sep 27, 1921
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Robert G. Murray
Oct 14, 1921
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John Harrison Bousman Aug 10, 1922
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Allen F. Shoemaker
May 17, 1925
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Michael T. Murphy Jul 5, 1928
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Emmet B. Keen
Dec 28, 1929
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Nicholas John Malambri Jan 11, 1931
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Glen R. Bright
Nov 16, 1973
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John H. Horst
Apr 28, 1975
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Charles L. Moeller
Dec 9, 1979
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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