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Assistant Chief of Police William J. O'Leary | Big Spring Police Department, Texas
Big Spring Police Department, Texas

Assistant Chief of Police

William J. O'Leary

Big Spring Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Tuesday, November 28, 1939

Biographical Info

Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 5 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 28, 1939
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed suicide

Assistant William Chief O'Leary was shot and killed while struggling with a suspect in front of a grocery store. There were no witnesses to the shooting and suspects were immediately identified. Approximately one month later a prisoner committed suicide and left a note stating he had killed Assistant Chief O'Leary. The note identified the location of the murder weapon, which later was linked to the bullets recovered from Assistant Chief O'Leary's body.

Assistant Chief O'Leary had been with the agency for only five months and was survived by three sons.