William Patrick O'Malley

East Chicago Police Department — East Chicago, IN

Felonious

End of Watch January 15, 1934

Age 43

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 67 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Patrolman William O'Malley was shot and killed after responding to an armed robbery at the First National Bank of East Chicago at Chicago Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard. The robbery was being committed by members of The Dillinger Gang. As the offenders were leaving the bank, shots were exchanged by the suspects before they fled the scene. Despite being mortally wounded by machine-gun fire, allegedly by John Dillinger, Patrolman O'Malley returned fire multiple times. John Dillinger was uninjured as he was wearing a bullet-resistant vest. Patrolman O'Malley served two years with the East Chicago Police Department. He was survived by his wife and three daughters. Led by John Dillinger, the Dillinger Gang was a notorious group of Midwest bank robbers. Associates of the gang were responsible for the fatal shootings of 13 law enforcement officers in 1933 and 1934. Two infamous members of the gang, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in separate incidents. The other gang members were either murdered by criminals, shot and killed by law enforcement officers, executed for their crimes, or sentenced to time in prison. Click here to see all the officers killed by members of the Dillinger Gang

Survivors

Survivors Foundation

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-24EEF317
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.
Patrolman O'Malley gave the East Chicago Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the East Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Malley.

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

Agency

Department East Chicago Police Department

Location East Chicago, IN

Platform Identity ecpd.lake.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1934

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; Machine gun

Offender The Dillinger Gang

Patrolman William Patrick O'Malley 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 East Chicago Police Department, 8 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

East Chicago Police Department

of 8 officers

100% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious