Wendell Fay Dilworth
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Wendell Fay Dilworth

Felonious
End of Watch December 16, 1932
Age 39
The Vigil Panel 65 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Dilworth was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a man wanted for rape. When he and another deputy entered a house to arrest the man the suspect and a second man confronted them with pistols. Deputy Dilworth was shot in the head when he attempted to disarm one of the suspects. The second deputy was shot in the back twice and wounded. The suspect was apprehended and hanged for Deputy Dilworth's murder.

Survivors

Deputy Dilworth was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-C8D5ADD1
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Dilworth served with the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Waterloo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dilworth.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA
Platform Identity bhcso.blackhawk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 16, 1932
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Deputy Sheriff Wendell Fay Dilworth is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 57.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
IA — Statewide
129
of 226 officers
57.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wendell Fay Dilworth's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Wendell Fay Dilworth Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wendell Fay Dilworth is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wendell Fay Dilworth was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.