William G. Paterson

Lake County Sheriff's Dept. — Crown Point, IN

Accident Veteran

End of Watch January 25, 1994

Age 44

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Badge 236

The Vigil Panel 140 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Sergeant William Paterson was killed in an automobile crash during a high-speed chase. The suspect's car broadsided Sergeant Paterson's patrol car at U.S. 30 and Randolph Street as it was being pursued westbound into Lake County from Porter County. One of the three juvenile suspects in the other vehicle was also killed. The three juveniles were escapees from Starke County and were driving a stolen vehicle. Sergeant Paterson was a United States Air Force Reserve and Lake Michigan Coast Guard Reserve Operation Desert Storm veteran and had served with the Lake County Sheriff's Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, two stepsons, mother, and brother. One of his sons currently serves as a commander with the department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, two stepsons, mother, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-BBA21487
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 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.
Sergeant Paterson gave the Lake County Sheriff's Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Crown Point community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Lake County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Crown Point, IN

Platform Identity lcso.lake.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 25, 1994

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 44

Badge Number 236

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Offender stolen vehicle

Military Service

William G. Paterson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant William G. Paterson 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 Lake County Sheriff's Dept., 4 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

Lake County Sheriff's Dept.

of 7 officers

57.1% Accident

IN — Statewide

151

of 503 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident