Rock Island Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 12, 1879
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: March 12, 1879
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Three paroled: One died in prison
Patrolman Joseph Rosenfield was beaten to death while attempting to disperse a group of rowdy men on the corner of 18th Street and 6th Avenue. When Patrolman Rosenfield approached the men, he was attacked and beaten to death. Four men were apprehended and charged with murder.
Two suspects were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. One was paroled in 1893. In 1890 the other man's sentence was reduced to 20 years. When a prison official told him he was about to get out he dropped dead right in front of him. One of the other two was sentenced to 14 years and the other to one year.
Patrolman Rosenfield was survived by five children by his first wife who died two years before him. He was survived by his second wife and a son. He served during the Civil War with Major Hatch's Cavalry, formed in Minnesota in 1863, which dealt with Indian uprisings in the northwest.