William H. Dallas

Quincy Police Dept. — Quincy, IL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 30, 1876

Age 32

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Officer Billy Dallas was shot and killed as he and his partner conducted a stakeout of a barn where stolen merchandise had been located. When four men appeared at the barn at about 2:00 am, they were confronted by the officers who ordered them to put their hands up. The men, instead, opened fire upon the officers with one suspect striking Officer Dallas three times in the face. He was taken to his home where he was treated by a doctor but died a few hours later. Three men were later arrested and charged with murder. Officer Dallas had served with the Quincy Police Department for two years and was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War. He was survived by his expectant wife and son. Officer Dallas is the first known African-American law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty in the state of Illinois. He had been born into slavery and escaped to Chicago, Illinois, before enlisting in the Union Army and becoming a police officer in Quincy.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-59237D99
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

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Dallas gave the Quincy Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Quincy community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Quincy Police Dept.

Location Quincy, IL

Platform Identity qpd.adams.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 30, 1876

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Charged

Military Service

William H. Dallas served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer William H. Dallas 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Quincy Police Dept., 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Quincy Police Dept.

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious