I was in the same class at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy as Officer Bill Toney, known as Toney. I remember our first day, and how hard the class instructor, a former Marine drill instructor, was on us. Joking, smiling, or laughing in line guaranteed that you were in for a royal chewing out.
Toney got chewed out quite a bit that day for that reason, and I remember him smiling even as the Lt. screamed in his face. He was just so happy to be at the Academy, he couldn't help smiling.
He told me that he wanted to be a police officer, and that the only place he'd ever wanted to wear the badge was Beech Grove P.D.
Of course he smiled his way through that long first day-he was so proud to wear the badge.
He worked hard at the Academy, talked about his wife-he was proud of his family,and how eager he was to graduate, so he could return to them and get to work.
I didn't see him again after graduation, until his funeral, one day before his birthday, but I had heard that he was as fine an officer as I had known he would be.
Toney was a fine example of what an officer should be.
Words cannot express my sympathy to his family, nor my outrage at his killer having the temerity to have Toney's unit number tatooed on his person.
I'll always remember Toney smiling, and I'm proud to have known him.
Officer's Name: Officer William Toney
Officer's Dept.: Beech Grove PD, Beech Grive, IN
End of Watch: 9/29/2000
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