William Joseph Trees

Indiana State Police — Indianapolis, IN

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch June 26, 1972

Age 28

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 9 mo

The Vigil Panel 110 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 45

Incident

Trooper William Trees was killed in an automobile accident during a pursuit on State Road 64 east of Francisco in Gibson County. As Trooper Trees was assisting the Francisco town marshal with speeding vehicles, he began chasing a violator when his patrol car struck an oncoming semitrailer head-on. The fleeing vehicle was never found. Trooper Trees was a United States Naval Reserve Vietnam veteran who had served with the Indiana State Police for nearly four years and was assigned to the Evansville post.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son born six months after his death, and 18-month-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-C05E96D0
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 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.
Trooper Trees gave the Indiana State Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana, 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 Indiana State Police

Type State Police

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity insp.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 1972

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 9 mo

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Military Service

William Joseph Trees served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper William Joseph Trees is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In IN, 152 of 504 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.2% of this state's fallen. That is 30.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Indiana State Police, 23 of 46 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Indiana State Police

of 46 officers

50% Accident

IN — Statewide

152

of 504 officers

30.2% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Accident