Burke Williams

Grant County Sheriff's Department — Marion, IN

Accident

End of Watch July 17, 1945

Age 37

Tour of Duty 7 mo

The Vigil Panel 81 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Special Deputy Sheriff Burke Williams was accidentally shot and killed by another deputy as they attempted to arrest a burglary suspect.

The subject resisted when Deputy Williams attempted to place him in handcuffs. The second deputy drew his weapon and it accidentally discharged, striking Deputy Williams in the head.

Deputy Williams had served with the Grant County Sheriff's Department for seven months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-60259255
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.
Special Deputy Sheriff Williams served with the Grant County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Marion community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Williams.

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

Agency

Department Grant County Sheriff's Department

Location Marion, IN

Platform Identity gcso.grant.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 17, 1945

Tour of Duty 7 mo

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Special Deputy Sheriff Burke Williams is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At Grant County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Grant County Sheriff's Department

of 4 officers

25% Accident

IN — Statewide

151

of 503 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident