Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff William Mull and Deputy William Sweem were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had just murdered the family who lived next door. The suspect attacked the female neighbor with an axe and then shot and killed her two young children before walking into town. Sheriff Mull and Deputy Sweem located the man inside a local bank and confronted him. The suspect then shot and killed both before fleeing the scene. The man committed suicide later in the afternoon when he was surrounded by a posse.
Sheriff Mull was just completing his first term as sheriff when the incident occurred. He was also a Civil War veteran of three different units and mustered out as Lt. Colonel..
Survivors
Sheriff Mull was survived by his two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-103C239F- 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.
Sheriff Mull served with the Parke County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Rockville community. Thank you 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 D. Mull served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff William D. Mull 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 Parke 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. William D. Mull's cause is highlighted.
How William D. Mull Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William D. Mull is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William D. Mull was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Parke County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
