Officer Down Memorial Page - http://www.odmp.org

Patrolman William Patrick O'Malley | East Chicago Police Department, Indiana
East Chicago Police Department, Indiana

Patrolman

William Patrick O'Malley

East Chicago Police Department, Indiana

End of Watch: Monday, January 15, 1934

Biographical Info

Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 15, 1934
Weapon Used: Rifle; Machine gun
Suspect Info: The Dillinger Gang

Patrolman William O'Malley was shot and killed after responding to an armed robbery at the First National Bank of East Chicago at Chicago Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard.

The robbery was being committed by members of The Dillinger Gang. As the offenders were leaving the bank, shots were exchanged by the suspects before they fled the scene. Despite being mortally wounded by machine-gun fire, allegedly by John Dillinger, Patrolman O'Malley returned fire multiple times. John Dillinger was uninjured as he was wearing a bullet-resistant vest.

Patrolman O'Malley served two years with the department and was survived by his wife and three daughters.