Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant William Shanley was shot and killed while investigating reports of a man who had dropped off a suspicious vehicle at a repair shop at 5320 N. Broadway. Sergeant Shanley's partner went to a nearby call box to report their location as Sergeant Shanley entered the garage. The garage owner informed him that the man would be back at 4:30 pm. When the man returned with a female companion, Sergeant Shanley confronted him and asked to see his driver's license. The man reached into his overcoat, produced a revolver, and fatally shot Sergeant Shanley. The suspect was a member of the notorious Dillinger Gang and had recently escaped from the Indiana State Penitentiary in Michigan City, Indiana. He was later found murdered in Wisconsin. Sergeant Shanley was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for over 17 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. He is buried in All Saints Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois. Led by John Dillinger, the Dillinger Gang was a notorious group of Midwest bank robbers. Associates of the gang were responsible for the fatal shootings of 13 law enforcement officers in 1933 and 1934. Two infamous members of the gang, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in separate incidents. The other gang members were either murdered by criminals, shot and killed by law enforcement officers, executed for their crimes, or sentenced to time in prison. Click here to see all the officers killed by members of the Dillinger Gang
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-E065F739- 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.
Sergeant Shanley gave the Chicago Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago 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 T. Shanley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant William T. Shanley 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%.
At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William T. Shanley's cause is highlighted.
How William T. Shanley Compares
Offender Outcome
Murdered
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William T. Shanley is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William T. Shanley was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
