Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Marshal Bill Meadows was shot and killed while investigating a burglary in progress at the Hartman Packing Company on Main Street in Plainfield. At approximately 2:00 am, a noise disturbance call occurred at the locker plant. Officer Meadows responded and arrived at the plant with the owner and his son. As Officer Meadows entered the building through the front door, he surprised the burglars and was fatally shot through the heart. The suspects fled the scene and were never apprehended. Night Marshal Meadows was a United States Army WWII and Korean War veteran and had served with the Plainfield Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and aunt.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-0A81B8C3- 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.
Night Marshal Meadows gave the Plainfield Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Plainfield 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 L. Meadows served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Night Marshal William L. Meadows 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 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 L. Meadows's cause is highlighted.
How William L. Meadows Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William L. Meadows is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William L. Meadows was killed by gun; unknown type.