Paul Richard Deguch
Agency patch
Corporal

Paul Richard Deguch

South Bend Police Department — South Bend, IN
Felonious
End of Watch August 24, 1997
Age 30
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 454
The Vigil Panel 144 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal Paul Deguch was shot and killed while questioning a suspect who was riding a bike in a high drug traffic area. The suspect produced a handgun and shot Corporal Deguch several times, including once in the head, as he was being searched for weapons. Corporal Deguch was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds one hour later. The 16-year-old suspect was arrested three hours later and charged with murder. On July 9, 1999, the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Corporal Deguch had served with the South Bend Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, a 2-month-old daughter, and two young sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-KHED-94NQ-N earlier record number BO-US-IN-FE241C6B
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Deguch gave the South Bend Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the South Bend community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Deguch.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location South Bend, IN
Platform Identity sbpd.stjoseph.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 24, 1997
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 30
Badge Number 454
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Paul is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Paul was 30. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Paul had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

South Bend Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Paul among them.

Corporal Paul Richard Deguch

South Bend Police Department · End of Watch August 24, 1997

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-E

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