Special Agent Emmett B. Keen
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department
Railroad Police
End of Watch: Friday, December 27, 1929

Biographical Info
Age: 40
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not availa

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, December 27, 1929
Incident Location: Illinois
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: In Custody

Special Agent Emmett B. Keen was shot and killed in a duel with three men attempting to loot an alcohol train.

Special Agent Keen, reputed crack shot of the North Western's police system, was guarding the alcohol shipment. When the train pulled onto a side track in Kickapoo, Illinois to permit a passenger train to go by, Agent Keen dropped off into the weeds. As he lay in wait, he saw three men creeping through the weeds. He opened fire with a .45 caliber automatic pistol.

The trio returned his fire, two of the shots hitting him, but he continued firing until he exhausted the clip in his automatic.
The train crew rushed to the scene and found Agent Keen dying. There were tracks in the snow indicating two men had dragged an inert body through the weeds.

Four suspects were taken into custody by sheriff's deputies in connection with the shooting.