William Edward Dolby

Indianapolis Police Dept. — Indianapolis, IN

Accident

End of Watch July 14, 1906

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Officer William Dolby was electrocuted while using a call box on Kentucky Avenue at the White River Bridge. The circuit the call box was on experienced a power surge. As Officer Dolby inserted his key into the call box he was shocked. He warned his partner not to touch the call box before collapsing. His partner ran to a nearby phone and notified the police station of the incident and to request a patrol wagon. Officer Dolby had passed away before his partner's return. Several other officers were also shocked while using call boxes on the same circuit that day. The cause of the surge was never determined, but as a result of Officer Dolby's death city electricians recommended burying all electrical lines in the area.

Survivors

Officer Dolby was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-EC95F53C
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Dolby served with the Indianapolis Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Dolby.

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

Agency

Department Indianapolis Police Dept.

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 14, 1906

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Officer William Edward Dolby is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At Indianapolis Police Dept., 19 of 59 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.2% of this agency's fallen.

Indianapolis Police Dept.

of 59 officers

32.2% Accident

IN — Statewide

151

of 503 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident