William C. Rooney

Colorado Department of Corrections — Colorado Springs, CO

Felonious

End of Watch January 22, 1900

Age 30

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 17

Incident

Captain William Rooney was killed when he was stabbed in the heart during a prison escape of four inmates at the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City. Two of the suspects were apprehended three days later and the third was apprehended one day after that. When the third man, Captain Rooney's killer, was being returned to prison an angry mob of citizens took control of him and hanged him from a telephone pole. The fourth suspect remains at large. Captain Rooney was survived by his wife. It is believed he is buried in Cortez, Colorado.

Survivors

Captain Rooney was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-5FEAB39C
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.
Night Captain Rooney served with the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Captain Rooney.

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

Agency

Department Colorado Department of Corrections

Location Colorado Springs, CO

Platform Identity cdcorr.elpaso.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 22, 1900

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Killed by citizens

Night Captain William C. Rooney 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Colorado Department of Corrections, 14 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.

Colorado Department of Corrections

of 18 officers

77.8% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious