Debra Sue Corr was 26 and a patrolwoman with the Aurora Police Department when she was killed on June 27, 1981. While on duty the night of a traffic stop at East Colfax Avenue and Moline Street she attempted to arrest the male driver. A struggle followed, the suspect gained control of her service weapon and fatally shot Officer Corr. A passing police explorer scout, Glen Spies, witnessed the struggle, stopped to render aid and was wounded by the suspect before he fled.

Officers quickly tracked the suspect, Joe Michael Ervin, to his home and found him trying to saw off handcuffs that Officer Corr had placed on one wrist. He was arrested and taken into custody. Days later, while awaiting trial in jail, Ervin committed suicide.

Officer Corr was the first female officer in the Aurora Police Department to be killed in the line of duty.