Patrolman William Patrick O'Malley

William Patrick O'Malley

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.

Led by John Dillinger, the Dillinger Gang was a notorious group of Midwest bank robbers. Associates of the gang were responsible for the fatal shootings of 13 law enforcement officers in 1933 and 1934.

Two infamous members of the gang, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in separate incidents.

The other gang members were either murdered by criminals, shot and killed by law enforcement officers, executed for their crimes, or sentenced to time in prison.