East Chicago Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Monday, January 15, 1934
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available
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.