Special Deputy Sheriff
William H. 'Butch' Engel
Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department
Thursday, August 14, 1919

Age: 44
Served: 1 day
Badge #:
Panel 25W, Line 22
Panel L16, Line 7

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Wednesday, August 13, 1919
12:45 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
1 day
Incident Location:
138 East Spring Street, New Albany
Incident County:
Floyd
Incident Township:
New Albany
Weapon Used:
Pistol
Suspect Disposition:
Discharged in 1965
Burial Place:
Locust Hill Cemetery, Evansville

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   Special Deputy Sheriff William Engel was shot and killed while he and another deputy were transporting two male prisoners to the Indiana Reformatory in Jeffersonville.

   As they traveled through New Albany and stopped at the interurban station, one prisoner suddenly drew a pistol he had obtained from his girlfriend and shot Special Deputy Engel in the back of the head.

   He was taken to St. Edward's Hospital in New Albany where he died the following day.

   The 25-year-old shooter, who had been sentenced to one to 14 years for auto theft, was later convicted of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison, paroled in 1953 and discharged in 1965.

   Special Deputy Sheriff Engel was survived by his wife and four children.

Historical Note

• Special Deputy Engel is one of four known officers killed in the line of duty in Indiana who served only one day.



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Special Deputy Sheriff William H. 'Butch' Engel - Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department - INLEM.org