Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper William Dixon died two days after being shot when he stopped to assist a disabled vehicle in LaPorte County. While Trooper Dixon was transporting a traffic violator from an accident scene to the county jail, he came upon a disabled vehicle on Fail Road, one-half mile south of U.S. 20. As he exited his squad and approached the vehicle to ask if they needed assistance, one of the two men who were both members of the Easton Gang, opened fire and struck Trooper Dixon in the hand. As he attempted to draw his gun, the suspect continued shooting at him several times. When two LaPorte County deputies saw a vehicle and the trooper's squad, they thought it was the accident scene they had also been dispatched to, but were met by the two suspects and kidnapped at gunpoint in their squad car. The traffic violator, who was left behind at the scene, drove Trooper Dixon to Holy Family Hospital in LaPorte where he died two days later from his injuries. The suspects released the two deputies on U.S. 41 near Cedar Lake in Lake County before fleeing into Illinois where they later were engaged in a gunbattle with police in Kankakee County. One suspect was killed and the other, who was wearing a bullet-resistant vest, was wounded. He was extradited, convicted of murder and kidnapping, and sentenced to death. On June 3, 1939, he was executed by electrocution. Trooper Dixon had served with the Indiana State Police for over 2½ years and was assigned to the Dunes Park post.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancée, parents and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-6F87CAEF- 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.
Trooper Dixon gave the Indiana State Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Dixon.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper William Raymond Dixon 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 State Police, 21 of 46 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Raymond Dixon's cause is highlighted.
How William Raymond Dixon Compares
Offender Outcome
One executed, one shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Raymond Dixon is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Raymond Dixon was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
45 officers from Indiana State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
