As National Police Week unfolds, a solemn nod to fallen officers is being echoed across the nation. The Grant County Sheriff's Office in Marion, Indiana, took to social media to pay respect to their local heroes. Among those remembered is Marion Police Officer Foster “Pete” Wildoner, whose sacrifice in 1966 remains a poignant chapter in the county's law enforcement history. The tribute, delivered through a post on Facebook, details how the young officer's life was abruptly ended due to injuries sustained in a high-speed pursuit.
As described in the shared account by the sheriff's office, Patrolman Wildoner was critically injured after the patrol car he was in crashed through a guardrail during a chase involving burglary suspects. The accident led to multiple fractures and lacerations for Wildoner. A sudden turn for the worse in his condition prompted a declaration of "fair" by hospital officials today, only to tragically lose his battle the following morning. This marked a grim loss for the community, Wildoner being just 25 years old and seven months into his tenure on the force. His partner in the incident, Patrolman Richard Fisher, sustained an arm fracture but was listed in “satisfactory” condition.
The circumstances surrounding Wildoner's death were not isolated incidents but the culmination of a chase against three suspects, believed to have stolen a vehicle and carried out multiple burglaries. They were also accused to have fired several shots at Wildoner and Fisher during the pursuit. The Grant County Sheriff's Office post recounts how the suspects' car similarly crashed through the same guardrail, with two fleeing on foot and later apprehended, while one remained trapped in the wreckage until police arrived. The suspects, identified in the post as Ronald D. Jones, Michael Patterson, and Robert Michaels, faced charges including assault and battery with intent to kill.
Reflecting on Wildoner's life, the tribute reveals that he was a life-long resident of Marion, a graduate of Bennett High School, and had joined the police force just that February. His loss was keenly felt within the community, leaving behind his spouse, parents, and a sister. In the hands of Father L. R. Farley, a burial was arranged to follow the funeral services at Diggs Funeral Home. Friends and members of the community were invited to pay their final respects, further entrenching his memory into the fabric of Marion.
