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William A. Dillon
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Police Officer

William A. Dillon

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch April 7, 1916
Age 39
The Vigil Panel 31 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 175

Incident

Police Officer William Dillon was shot and killed while investigating the murder of Officer John McKenna. Officer McKenna was shot and killed while investigating two brothers, ages 19 and 21, who he believed were stealing copper streetcar wire. He had observed a car believed to be used in the thefts and stopped the two occupants. When he searched the men he located a revolver on one of them, at which time he escorted them to a nearby business. One of the men asked if he could get a drink of water and Officer McKenna allowed him to do so. As the man walked behind Officer McKenna he produced a small handgun hidden in his waistband and shot him in the back of the head, killing him. The two men fled the scene and went to their home. Officer William Dillon, who received a description of the car while checking in during his rounds, recognized it as a car belonging to two brothers. He went to their home at 4253 Athlone Avenue and spotted them in the garage. As he entered the garage at gunpoint he was attacked from behind with a hatchet. The two suspects beat him to death and then buried his body in a shallow grave. Both men were eventually apprehended and sentenced to hang, however, their sentences were commuted to life. One was paroled on January 6, 1941.

Survivors

Officer Dillon was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Dillon served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Dillon.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, City of Saint Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 7, 1916
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1916, 155 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 39. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William A. Dillon

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch April 7, 1916

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-W

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