Holly MatkinRock Island County, IL – Hampton Police Department (HPD) Chief Terrence “Terry” Engle died in the line of duty on Saturday night after his patrol vehicle veered off the roadway as he was responding to a 911 call.
The 57-year-old police chief was traveling northbound on Illinois Route 84 near 180th Street North when the fatal collision occurred at approximately 6:45 p.m., KWQC reported.
Chief Engle’s patrol vehicle veered off of the roadway for an unknown reason before it slammed into a tree, according to WQAD.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The Illinois State Police is handling the ongoing investigation into the fatal crash.
Chief Engle served the Black Hawk College Police Department for 35 years before he joined the HPD in 2018, the Quad-City Times reported.
In 2000, he was honored with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Award for Valor for his role in helping to save two women from an armed suspect during a domestic violence incident on campus.
Chief Engle managed to get the women to safety before the suspect fatally shot himself, the Quad-City Times reported.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Hampton Police Department Chief Terrence “Terry” Engle, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.