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Auxiliary Policeman

William Graves

Sparta Police Department — Sparta, IL

Felonious

End of Watch December 9, 1976

Age 42

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Auxiliary Policeman William Graves was shot and killed after responding to the scene of a parole violator who was shooting at officers with an Enfield rifle. The suspect had shot and wounded four other officers. The round that struck Auxiliary Policeman Graves had gone through the arm of another officer. The suspect was finally shot and killed by a state trooper.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-8BCC908A
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.
Auxiliary Policeman Graves served with the Sparta Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Sparta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Auxiliary Policeman Graves.

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

Agency

Department Sparta Police Department

Location Sparta, IL

Platform Identity spd.randolph.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 9, 1976

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .303 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Auxiliary Policeman William Graves 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Sparta Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Graves's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Graves Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Graves is highlighted in Dec.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Graves was killed by rifle; .303 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518