Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Dilworth was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a man wanted for rape. When he and another deputy entered a house to arrest the man the suspect and a second man confronted them with pistols. Deputy Dilworth was shot in the head when he attempted to disarm one of the suspects. The second deputy was shot in the back twice and wounded. The suspect was apprehended and hanged for Deputy Dilworth's murder.
Survivors
Deputy Dilworth was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-C8D5ADD1- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Dilworth served with the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Waterloo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dilworth.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Wendell Fay Dilworth 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%.
At Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wendell Fay Dilworth's cause is highlighted.
How Wendell Fay Dilworth Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wendell Fay Dilworth is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wendell Fay Dilworth was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
