Officer William Whitfield
Indianapolis Police Department
Indiana
End of Watch: Monday, November 27, 1922

Biographical Info
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: 276

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Sunday, June 18, 1922
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Case never solved

Officer William Whitfield succumbed to gunshot wounds received five months earlier while chasing a suspect.

Officer Whitfield was in plainclothes on foot patrol when he entered an alley and noticed a roughly dressed man. He asked the man what he was doing there and the man suddenly turned and ran, with Officer Whitfield in pursuit. During the chase the man suddenly turned and fired several shots from a revolver, striking Officer Whitfield once in the abdomen. He was able to stumble back to the street where he collapsed. Passers-by took him to a hospital where he lingered for five months before succumbing to his injuries.

Officer Whitfield had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 12 years and was the first black Indianapolis police officer to die in the line of duty. In 1998 members of his agency contributed to finally purchase a headstone for his grave.