Roll of Honor
Incident
Reserve Deputy Thomas Dunigan was shot and killed while attempting to stop a bank robbery suspect. He was off duty visiting the county jail when the bank robbery call was reported. Reserve Deputy Dunigan took a reserve patrol car and responded to the scene. Another deputy spotted the suspect vehicle heading in the opposite direction but could not turn around to follow it due to snow in the median. The deputy transmitted the suspect's direction and Reserve Deputy Dunigan waited for the suspect at an exit. Several minutes later a passer-by made a radio transmission that an officer had been shot. Reserve Deputy Dunigan was found by other officers with a shotgun wound to the head. The suspect was later apprehended and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Reserve Deputy Dunigan and 20 years for the bank robbery. He was again denied parole in November 2010. In December 2011 the subject died while still in prison. Reserve Deputy Dunigan had served with the Morgan County Sheriff's Department for 1½ years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-39BD8FAC- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Reserve Deputy Dunigan gave the Morgan County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Martinsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Deputy Dunigan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Reserve Deputy Thomas B. Dunigan 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%.
At Morgan County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas B. Dunigan's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas B. Dunigan Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas B. Dunigan is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas B. Dunigan was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Morgan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
