Lake County Sheriff's Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 25, 1994
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: 236
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: January 25, 1994
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant William Paterson was killed in an automobile crash during a high-speed chase. The suspect's car broadsided Sergeant Paterson's patrol car at U.S. 30 and Randolph Street as it was being pursued westbound into Lake County from Porter County.
One of the three juvenile suspects in the other vehicle was also killed. The three juveniles were escapees from Starke County and were driving a stolen vehicle.
Sergeant Paterson was a United States Air Force Reserve and Lake Michigan Coast Guard Reserve Operation Desert Storm veteran and had served with the Lake County Sheriff's Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, two stepsons, mother, and brother. One of his sons currently serves as a commander with the department.