Roll of Honor
William Edward Phillips, III
Incident
Officer Will Phillips was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while on bike patrol training at approximately 12:45 am in Henry County.
Officer Phillips and two other members of the bike patrol team had just finished their shift and were conducting a training ride on department-issued bicycles. While they were riding westbound on U.S. 40 near the Knightstown High School, he was struck from behind by the driver of a vehicle who then fled the scene. All of the officers were wearing helmets and had lights on their bicycles.
The 59-year-old female suspect driver later surrendered and was charged with failure to stop after a fatal accident. She was subsequently sentenced to only two years of home confinement.
Officer Phillips had served with the Greenfield Police Department for nearly 4½ years and had previously served with the McCordsville Police Department.
Survivors
He was a US Marine Corps veteran, and he is survived by his wife, 2- and 5-year-old sons, two sisters, and his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-43EBBB08- 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.
Police Officer Phillips gave the Greenfield Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenfield 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 Edward Phillips, III served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer William Edward Phillips, III 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Edward Phillips, III's cause is highlighted.
How William Edward Phillips, III Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 2 years home-confinement
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Edward Phillips, III is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Edward Phillips, III was killed by automobile.