Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Oliver Wilhite was shot and killed as he attempted to serve a writ of restitution on a subject who had refused to vacate his father's property in Liberty Township.
Constable Wilhite and a deputized citizen proceeded to the residence, about two miles south of Clayton, to serve the writ. Upon their arrival, they were met with no resistance, took the subject's shotgun and removed his belongings outside. As the deputized citizen retrieved materials to secure the front door of the residence, he heard three shots. The subject had pulled a revolver and fatally shot Constable Wilhite.
As the deputized citizen went for assistance, he saw the subject running across a large field, assuming he was attempting to escape. The subject instead went about a quarter of a mile to his cousin's house. There he confronted her, as she had objected to him wanting to marry her sister, and fatally shot her in front of her 5-year-old child. He then returned to his father's property until being taken into custody. The suspect was later found guilty and convicted of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 1939.
Constable Wilhite was survived by his wife, daughter, four grandchildren, and three sisters.
Survivors
Constable Wilhite was survived by his wife, daughter, four grandchildren, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-IN-86139190- Stewardship
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Wilhite served with the Danville Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Danville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Wilhite.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Oliver William Wilhite is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oliver William Wilhite's cause is highlighted.
How Oliver William Wilhite Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oliver William Wilhite is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oliver William Wilhite was killed by handgun; revolver.