Sergeant William Dinwiddie

William Dinwiddie

Sergeant William Dinwiddie succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on December 3, 1901, when he and Patrolman Robert Saylor were shot after responding to a disturbance at a local tavern on Central Street in Knoxville.

The suspect involved in the disturbance was the famous outlaw known as Kid Curry. The suspect immediately opened fire on the officers, wounding them both before fleeing.

Sergeant Dinwiddie was shot in the chest. Despite returning to work, he was often unable to patrol his full eight-hour shift. The bullet moved from his chest to his back over the years. His death 12 1/2 years later was attributed to the complications of the gunshot wound to his chest.

Patrolman Robert Saylor succumbed to his wounds on December 23, 1914.

Sergeant Dinwiddie had served with the Knoxville Police Department for 21 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

Kid Curry was suspected of be involved with the murders of five law enforcement officers: Sheriff Josiah Hazen of the Converse County Sheriff's Department, Wyoming; Deputy Samuel Jenkins and Sheriff Jesse Tyler of the Grand County Sheriff's Department, Utah; and Patrolman Robert Saylor and Patrolman William Dinwiddie of the Knoxville Police Department, Tennessee.

Kid Curry was arrested after the murders of Patrolman Saylor and Patrolman Dinwiddie. He was convicted of the murders but escaped from the local jail before being transferred to a federal prison.