Darlington police chief who died in the line of duty will be honored 87 years later

 

DARLINGTON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In southwest Wisconsin, a former Darlington police chief will be honored for losing his life while on duty in 1933. 

While searching through old City Council minutes, Chief Jason King stumbled upon the name William McGinty. That name isn't on the official police chief roster. 

Old newspaper articles found just this summer show that in May 1933 McGinty was fighting a drunk man when he dropped dead. King has submitted McGinty's name to be inscribed at the Capitol with the rest of the Wisconsin officers who died in the line of duty.

"If I'm out fighting a drunken man today on Main Street and I die, I would like to think somebody would remember my sacrifice, and yet here's this guy that has gone unnoticed for decades," King said. "So it's time to properly remember his sacrifice."

Chief McGinty will be honored at the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Ceremony next May.