ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Illinois State Police are marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Master Sergeant Stanley Talbot.
On June 23, 2001, Master Sergeant Talbot was stationed at a roadside safety checkpoint at 15th Street and 2nd Avenue in Rock Island, near the Centennial Bridge.
A vehicle came through the checkpoint, and then began to flee as Talbot approached it. Talbot became entangled with the car and was drug for about half of a mile before falling free.
Talbot later died due to injuries sustained in the incident.
Master Sergeant Talbot had worked in the Illinois State Police for 26 years and was about 6 months away from his planned retirement.
He was survived by his wife and daughter, who both serve with the Illinois State Police, and his son, who serves in the Collinsville Police Department.
In 2017, the Centennial Bridge was renamed to be the Master Sgt. Stanley Talbot Memorial Bridge in his honor.
The driver was arrested two weeks later and charged with two counts of murder. In August 2002, the driver was convicted of Reckless Homicide and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. He served 4 years of his 12-year sentence before being released on parole in November 2005.