Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, December 1, 1954
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: 22
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: December 1, 1954
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Investigator William Miller was killed in an automobile accident as he was responding to a call of illegal hunting near Wilmington in Will County.
Shortly after 7:00 am, Investigator Miller's squad car skidded on the icy road of the Illinois Route 66 Bridge over the DuPage River. The squad car crossed into oncoming traffic, striking a northbound vehicle head-on.
Investigator Miller's son was a police officer in Plainfield at the time and was one of the first officers on the scene. For the next 30 years, his son served in his place and went on to become the chief of law enforcement of the state's conservation police.
Investigator Miller had served with the Illinois Department of Conservation for 12 years and was a US Navy veteran of World War I. He was survived by his wife and four children.