Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office, Indiana
End of Watch: Wednesday, August 13, 1919
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 1 day
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 13, 1919
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Special Deputy William Engel was shot and killed at the New Albany and Salem Railroad Station in New Albany while assisting with transporting prisoners to the Indiana Reformatory.
He was escorting a murder suspect when the man suddenly drew a pistol and shot him in the back of the head as they stepped off the train at the station at the intersection of Pearl Street and Oak Street. The man had obtained the pistol from a friend at the train station where the prisoners were being loaded.
The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 1953 his sentence was commuted to time served to life making him eligible for parole.
Special Deputy Engel had served with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department for only one day. He was survived by his wife and four children.