Auxiliary Policeman William Graves, Sparta Police Department, Illinois

Auxiliary Policeman William Graves

Sparta Police Department, Illinois

End of Watch Thursday, December 9, 1976

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William Graves

Auxiliary Policeman William Graves was shot and killed after responding to the scene of a parole violator who was shooting at officers with an Enfield rifle. The suspect had shot and wounded four other officers. The round that struck Auxiliary Policeman Graves had gone through the arm of another officer. The suspect was finally shot and killed by a state trooper.

Bio

Age 42
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; .303 caliber
Offender Shot and killed

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I was a college student; an intern with the Illinois Department of Corrections Parole Office in Carbondale. I went into a trailer in Percy with the parole officer assigned to check on a troubled young man recently released from prison. He chased us out with a rifle. It was a tense and deadly situation that I know i was lucky to have escaped from. Just a few minutes later I found myself behind a car with a couple of the many officers and people who responded to the call for help. One was William Graves. I did not know you. I did not exchange a word with you. But I heard your voice that afternoon. I have heard you and remembered you hundreds of times over the past 46 years. You did not escape. You chose to act.

Dan Fitzgerald
SIU Administration of Justice Intern

July 24, 2022