Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado
End of Watch Monday, January 22, 1900
Add to My HeroesWilliam C. Rooney
Captain William Rooney was killed when he was stabbed in the heart during a prison escape of four inmates. Two of the suspects were apprehended three days later and third was apprehended a day after that. When the third man, Captain Rooney's killer, was being returned to prison an angry mob of citizens took control of him and hanged him from a telephone pole. The fourth suspect remains at large.
In 1893 the second suspect was only 11-years-old when he shot and killed a man so he could steal his watch. He was sentenced to 25 years, first in boy's reformatory and five years later transferred to prison. He was paroled on September 6, 1905. The third inmate, sent to prison in 1895 for train robbery, was pardoned on September 3, 1907, by Governor Henry Bushnel.
Captain Rooney was survived by his wife. It is believed he is buried in Cortez, Colorado.
Bio
- Age 30
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Stabbed
- Weapon Edged weapon; Knife
- Offender Killed by citizens
Most Recent Reflection
View all 6 ReflectionsRest in Peace, Captain Rooney. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.
Officer 11169
January 24, 2012
Recent LODD Deaths

Border Patrol Agent Daniel Salazar
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: May 17, 2022

Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Wayne Cash
Calloway County Sheriff's Office, KY
EOW: May 16, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Walter Donald Jenkins, Jr.
Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: May 11, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Robert Adam Howard
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: May 11, 2022

Patrol Officer Brian Lee Sember
Ottawa Police Department, IL
EOW: April 3, 2022

Sergeant Nicholas W. Tullier
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, LA
EOW: May 5, 2022

Police Officer Darryl Wayne Fortner
Vestavia Hills Police Department, AL
EOW: April 6, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Nicholas D. Weist
Knox County Sheriff's Office, IL
EOW: April 29, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Douglas Warren Sanford
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: March 29, 2022