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Rube Tom Pollock
Incident
Location: Arkansas Incident Date: Saturday, March 3, 1934 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to 21 years
Special Officer Rube Pollock succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on March 3rd, 1934, in the railyards at Brinkley, Arkansas while investigating a fire inside of a boxcar.
He and another railroad employee had approached the boxcar and Officer Pollock went inside to investigate it. As he did so he encountered a man who opened fire on him, striking him several times. He was taken to a local hospital where he died on March 8th, 1934.
The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested in Cairo, Illinois. He was extradited back to Arkansas where he was convicted of Officer Pollock's first-degree murder and initially sentenced to death. The first-degree murder charge was reduced to second-degree murder on appeal and he was subsequently sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Officer Pollock was survived by his mother, four brothers, and two sisters.
Survivors
Officer Pollock was survived by his mother, four brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
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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 Pollock served with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Island community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Pollock.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department has lost 13 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Rube is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Rube is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Rube 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 1934, 3 officers at Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1934, 17 officers in IL were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 22.
In 1934, 178 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1934, 179 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Rube was 50. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 48; the middle age was 42.
Rube was 50. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38.
Rube was 50. 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.
Rube was 50. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
March holds 23.1% of these deaths at Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department, more than any other month. Thursdays: 23.1%.
March holds 5.2% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Thursdays: 15%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 13 deaths at Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 30.8% 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, in 28.5% 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, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department has 13 officers remembered here, Rube among them.
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Andrew Creason Sep 19, 1903
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Claude H. McDonald Mar 26, 1911
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Hugo P. A. Alvine
Dec 9, 1915
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Charles F. Artz
Jun 27, 1920
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Will C. Reed
Jul 4, 1920
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William E. Waers Jan 11, 1922
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Alfred Allen Gifford
Jun 27, 1922
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Thomas P. Griffin Nov 15, 1923
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Ralph Robinson Mar 31, 1926
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Archibald D. Brandon
Apr 19, 1931
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Rube Tom Pollock
Mar 8, 1934
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Edwin C. Shane Apr 17, 1934
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John W. Whitted Apr 17, 1934
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
