William Dils, a 52-year-old male, was an Erie County Sheriff's Deputy with 19 years of service. On the afternoon of November 5, 1977, he and his partner, Detective Sgt. William Dispence, were investigating a burglary report at a residence in North Collins, New York. The two officers were led to believe that stolen property was being kept at a home on Sherman Road. As they approached, a 20-year-old man named Efrain Rodriguez fled upstairs and locked himself in a bedroom.
As Deputy Dils and Detective Dispence stood outside the closed bedroom door, Rodriguez fired two shots through it. One of the bullets struck Deputy Dils in the abdomen. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries approximately two and a half hours later. The second shot narrowly missed Detective Dispence. Deputy Dils, a veteran of World War II, was reportedly nearing his retirement at the end of that year.
A massive manhunt for Rodriguez ensued, involving over 300 law enforcement officers. The search was concentrated in the North Collins area, as authorities believed he had no transportation and was likely still in the vicinity. With the assistance of the local Spanish-speaking community, contact was made with Rodriguez. He ultimately surrendered to an assistant district attorney and another deputy at a home near the scene of the shooting, turning over his shotgun.
Efrain Rodriguez was arraigned in North Collins Town Court on a charge of first-degree murder and was ordered to be held at the Erie County Holding Center without bail. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. After serving his minimum sentence, Rodriguez was granted parole and released.
