William E. Dwyer

Terre Haute Police Department — Terre Haute, IN

Felonious

End of Watch April 2, 1908

Age 47

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 22 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 13

Incident

Chief of Detectives William Dwyer was shot and killed during a shootout in the Vigo County Courthouse. A defendant who had just been convicted of dynamiting three stores in Sandford produced a gun and began firing, killing Detective Dwyer and wounding three others. Other officers returned fire wounding the suspect. The suspect had dynamited the three businesses because the owners had exposed his illegal drinking establishment. His conviction came as a result of Detective Dwyer's testimony. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two to 21 years in prison on October 4, 1908. He was paroled in 1915. On January 18, 1925, he was shot and killed by officers near Terre Haute during a sensational gun battle. He started the fight with the officers for no known reason. Detective Dwyer had served with the Terre Haute Police Department for 20 years.

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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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Detectives Dwyer gave the Terre Haute Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Terre Haute community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Detectives Dwyer.

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

Agency

Department Terre Haute Police Department

Location Terre Haute, IN

Platform Identity thpd.vigo.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 2, 1908

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 47

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Paroled in 1915

Chief of Detectives William E. Dwyer 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 Terre Haute Police Department, 12 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.

Terre Haute Police Department

of 14 officers

85.7% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious