Reserve Deputy Thomas B. Dunigan, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, Indiana

Reserve Deputy Thomas B. Dunigan

Morgan County Sheriff's Office, Indiana

End of Watch Friday, December 26, 1975

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Thomas B. Dunigan

Reserve Deputy Thomas Dunigan was shot and killed while attempting to stop a bank robbery suspect.

He was off duty visiting the county jail when the bank robbery call was reported. Reserve Deputy Dunigan took a reserve patrol car and responded to the scene. Another deputy spotted the suspect vehicle heading in the opposite direction but could not turn around to follow it due to snow in the median. The deputy transmitted the suspect's direction and Reserve Deputy Dunigan waited for the suspect at an exit.

Several minutes later a passer-by made a radio transmission that an officer had been shot. Reserve Deputy Dunigan was found by other officers with a shotgun wound to the head.

The suspect was later apprehended and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Reserve Deputy Dunigan and 20 years for the bank robbery. He was again denied parole in November 2010. In December 2011 the subject died while still in prison.

Reserve Deputy Dunigan had served with the Morgan County Sheriff's Department for 1½ years. He is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.

Bio

Age 35
Tour 1 year, 6 months
Badge 37

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Died in prison

off duty, robbery

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Most Recent Reflection

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Tommy and his sister lived 2 houses down from on Warren Street with his parents. Saw him come and go. He loved being involved with law enforcement. I listened to the whole situation on our new police radio. It haunts me to this day, I rode to the scene in the rescue sqad but one the way to the hospital I sat in the front while my dad and Ray Woods worked feverishly to save his life
He was loved and in my heart will stay with me forever. Taken from us too soon.

Maria Pittman Whitaker
Friend of family

September 8, 2023