Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal William Petersen was shot and killed as he attempted to stop a speeding vehicle.
As Marshal Petersen stood in an auto repair shop, he observed the vehicle speed down the street at approximately 70 mph and nearly strike two children. He gave pursuit on his police motorcycle, and as he was about to overtake the vehicle, one of the occupants leaned out of the window and shot him in the chest and abdomen with a shotgun, killing him instantly.
The suspects were later arrested, and the suspect, identified as the gunman, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. In 1922, the governor granted clemency and commuted the inmate's sentence to life in prison, but in 1928, the same governor granted the inmate a pardon.
Marshal Petersen was a World War I veteran and was the village's only law enforcement officer.
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BO-US-IL-F8FC2966- 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 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.
Marshal Petersen served with the Winthrop Harbor Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Winthrop Harbor community. Thank you 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 Petersen served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Marshal William Petersen 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 Petersen's cause is highlighted.
How William Petersen Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1928
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Petersen is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Petersen was killed by shotgun.