On a tragic afternoon in October of 1989, a dedicated public servant's life was cut short in the line of duty. Deputy William M. Dillemuth, a 44-year-old male and a 23-year veteran of the Erie County Sheriff's Office, was killed on October 20th. The events unfolded in the town of Clarence, New York, at a residence on Kraus Road as Deputy Dillemuth and his partner were attempting to serve a warrant.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., as the two deputies approached the house, they were met with
gunfire in what was described as an ambush. Deputy Dillemuth was struck in the chest. His partner was also shot but managed to retreat to their patrol vehicle and call for assistance. For over half an hour, responding officers were unable to reach the fallen deputy due to the continuous barrage of gunfire from the suspect inside the home. Deputy Dillemuth was eventually transported to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at 3:15 p.m.
The man responsible for the shooting barricaded himself inside the house for more than nine hours, creating a lengthy standoff with law enforcement. After his eventual surrender, he was taken into custody. The suspect was later convicted for the murder of Deputy Dillemuth and received a sentence of life in prison. He will not be eligible for parole until 2039. Deputy Dillemuth was survived by his son.
