Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman William Vaughn was shot and killed as he and another officer arrested a man involved in an altercation with a woman. The officers were walking the man out of a hotel when the man pulled out a .22-caliber pistol and shot each officer once, killing Patrolman Vaughn. The suspect was then shot and killed by the wounded officer. Patrolman Vaughn had served with the Centralia Police Department for three years.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-A3126619- Stewardship
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- 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.
Patrolman Vaughn gave the Centralia Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Centralia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Vaughn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Vaughn 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Vaughn's cause is highlighted.
How William Vaughn Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Vaughn is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Vaughn was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.