Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Wank was shot and killed as he and several deputies searched for two men who shot and badly beat a railroad detective in the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad yard in New Butler.
The two suspects escaped on a train bound for Fond du Lac. The deputies took up positions along a section of track where the train was ordered to stop. As the beam of the headlight fell on the deputies, a switchman standing on the first car opened fire with a shotgun, killing Deputy Wank and seriously wounding another deputy. He said he thought the deputies were the two suspects.
The switchman was arrested and charged with Deputy Wank's murder.
Deputy Wank was survived by his wife and five children.
Survivors
Deputy Wank was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-4DD4982D- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Wank served with the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Wank.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Wank 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Milwaukee County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 15.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Wank's cause is highlighted.
How William Wank Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Wank is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Wank was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Milwaukee County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
