Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant William Paterson was killed in an automobile crash during a high-speed chase. The suspect's car broadsided Sergeant Paterson's patrol car at U.S. 30 and Randolph Street as it was being pursued westbound into Lake County from Porter County. One of the three juvenile suspects in the other vehicle was also killed. The three juveniles were escapees from Starke County and were driving a stolen vehicle. Sergeant Paterson was a United States Air Force Reserve and Lake Michigan Coast Guard Reserve Operation Desert Storm veteran and had served with the Lake County Sheriff's Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, two stepsons, mother, and brother. One of his sons currently serves as a commander with the department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, two stepsons, mother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-BBA21487- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.
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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.
Sergeant Paterson gave the Lake County Sheriff's Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Crown Point 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William G. Paterson served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant William G. Paterson is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In IN, 152 of 504 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.2% of this state's fallen. That is 30.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Lake County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William G. Paterson's cause is highlighted.
How William G. Paterson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William G. Paterson is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Military Service
William G. Paterson served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit William G. Paterson’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Lake County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
