Hiram B. McWilliams

Indiana Department of Correction — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious

End of Watch November 22, 1911

Age 40

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Custody Officer Hiram McWilliams died as a result of injuries he suffered the previous day during an assault by an inmate at the Indiana Reformatory in Clarksville. Custody Officer McWilliams was struck by an inmate four times with a hammer. He was taken to the institution's hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following morning.

The 21-year-old inmate attacked Officer McWilliams after he reported him for an infraction of rules, causing 21 days of good behavior time that was erased from his sentence to be added back. He had been serving a 14 year term for grand larceny since he was 16. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life. Custody Officer McWilliams was survived by his wife, sister, three brothers and father.

Custody Officer McWilliams was survived by his wife, sister, three brothers and father.

Survivors

Custody Officer McWilliams was survived by his wife, sister, three brothers and father.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-65DF9FB6
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.
Custody Officer McWilliams served with the Indiana Department of Correction.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Custody Officer McWilliams.

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

Agency

Department Indiana Department of Correction

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity idc.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 22, 1911

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object; Hammer

Offender Sentenced to life

Custody Officer Hiram B. McWilliams 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Indiana Department of Correction, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Indiana Department of Correction

of 12 officers

66.7% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious