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 at the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City.
Two of the suspects were apprehended three days later and the third was apprehended one 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.
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 7 ReflectionsDied in the line of duty and buried in an unmarked grave. The state would not even provide him a proper burial.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205713964/william-clark-rooney/photo#view-photo=197730558
John in Michigan
MDOC
November 12, 2023
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Evan Dunn
Golden Police Department, CO
EOW: November 6, 2024
Police Officer Enrique Martinez
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: November 4, 2024
Detective Clarence E. Word, III
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: October 1, 2024
Trooper Corey S. Thompsen
Illinois State Police, IL
EOW: October 18, 2024
Detective Maurice "Mo" Joseph
Norfolk Police Department, VA
EOW: October 9, 2024
Corrections Officer Bradford D. McNew
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: October 12, 2024
Corporal Raymond Kuuchi
United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services, US
EOW: September 2, 2024
Park Ranger Kevin Melvin Grossheim
United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service, US
EOW: October 6, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Lex Allen Love
Wise County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: October 2, 2024