Will County Probation Department, Illinois
End of Watch Thursday, April 10, 1941
Add to My HeroesErnest C. Wehr
Probation Officer Ernest Wehr was shot and killed while driving a probationer to a work site at a farm off Route 30 in Cherry Hill.
The subject had complained about his current employer so he was assigned to a new work location. As Officer Wehr turned off Route 30 onto the farm's driveway the man pulled out a .38 caliber revolver and shot him in the head without warning. The subject then drove the vehicle across the street where he hid Officer Wehr's body in shrubbery on the estate of Illinois State Senator Richard Barr, three miles east of Joliet.
The 18-year-old man fled in Officer Wehr's car but was arrested the following day. He confessed to having planned to murder Officer Wehr to steal the car. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. In 1949 his sentence was commuted to 60 years for participated in malaria treatments during World War II.
Officer Wehr was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery in combat in Cantigny, France. He had served with the Will County Probation Department for approximately one year and was survived by his wife. He is buried at Elmhurst Cemetery in Joliet, Illinois.
Bio
- Age 42
- Tour 1 year
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 5 ReflectionsOfficer Wehr,
On today, the 80th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army in Europe fighting the Germans during WW I as a member of the 1st Division-the “Big Red One.”
R.I.P.
USBP
Anonymous
United States Border Patrol
April 10, 2021
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