Vermilion County Sheriff's Office, Illinois
End of Watch Wednesday, June 6, 2001
Add to My HeroesMyron G. Deckard
Sergeant Myron Deckard was shot and killed with his own weapon by a prisoner he was transporting to the jail in Danville.
Sergeant Deckard, the agency's warrant officer, had picked the man up from the Montgomery County Jail in Hillsboro where he had been misdemeanor warrants. He was transporting him back to Vermilion County when the prisoner freed himself and reached over the back seat of the squad car. The prisoner had been restrained in handcuffs attached to a restraining belt but was able to free one hand. He forced Sergeant Deckard to drive off the side of I-72 near the Cisco exit in Macon County and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the prisoner gained control of Sergeant Deckard's handgun and shot him twice, killing him. Sergeant Deckard's patrol car was not equipped with a cage.
After the incident, the man hitchhiked to a nearby sheriff's office and turned himself in, telling them he had just killed a deputy. A search ensued and officers located Sergeant Deckard still in his vehicle.
In November 2002 the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On January 11th, 2003, the outgoing governor granted clemency to all 167 Illinois death row inmates as one of his last acts in office. The inmate's sentence was commuted to life without parole.
Sergeant Deckard had served with the Vermilion County Sheriff's Department for 32 years and had been the warrant officer for 15 years. In 1983 he was shot twice and wounded by a suspect he was attempting to arrest. He was survived by his wife and son.
Bio
- Age 72
- Tour 32 years
- Badge 406
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Officer's handgun
- Offender Death sentence commuted
Most Recent Reflection
View all 70 ReflectionsHey pop,
As I watched what was happening to our country on the news - I couldn't help to think about what our conversation together would be like. I know either you would have called me or I would have called you. Knowing you I could only think of you loading up your gear and putting it in the squad and heading it towards DC. I would have most certainly been riding shot- gun with you! Some good cops were injured and unfortunately a DC Capital Police Officer has died.
I know you can see from above all that has been going on with our country's police departments and these people just don't get that the cops are our salvation. Every time a cop pins on a badge & straps on a gun belt this country should pray for the cop to come safely as I did for you and then one night you didn't!!
Your Son,
Tony
Tony Forshee
Son
January 8, 2021
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