Centralia Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Monday, July 15, 1946
Age: 65
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 15, 1946
Weapon Used: Handgun; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Patrolman William Vaughn was shot and killed as he and another officer arrested a man involved in an altercation with a woman.
The officers were walking the man out of a hotel when the man pulled out a .22-caliber pistol and shot each officer once, killing Patrolman Vaughn. The suspect was then shot and killed by the wounded officer.
Patrolman Vaughn had served with the Centralia Police Department for three years.