STATEHOUSE (Jan. 7, 2026) – State Rep. Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point) authored a House Concurrent Resolution to rename a portion of U.S. Highway 30 after fallen Lake County Sgt. William Gilbert Paterson.
Paterson, a Lake County native and 18-year veteran of the Lake County Sheriff's Department, was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 25, 1994, during a high-speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle collided with Paterson's patrol car at the intersection of Randolph Street and U.S. Highway 30 in Merrillville, ultimately killing both drivers.
"As an officer of the law, Paterson made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of service, courageously protecting his community from harm," Olthoff said. "Now, over 30 years later, we hope to honor him and preserve his legacy by renaming a portion of U.S. 30."
Olthoff's resolution would rename the portion of U.S. Highway 30 from mile marker 15 to mile marker 16 in honor of Paterson as the "Sergeant William Gilbert Paterson Memorial Mile."
Paterson graduated from Hobert High School in 1968 and went on to attend Indiana University Northwest. In addition to his police service, he was a member of the United States Air Force Reserve and the Lake Michigan Coast Guard Reserve, and he served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as a member of Port Security Unit 303. At the time of his death, he was an active senior airman with the 928th Air Force Unit, based at O’Hare Airport.
House Concurrent Resolution 2 passed the House Committee on Roads and Transportation and now moves to the House floor for consideration. To learn more about the resolution and follow session, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point) represents House District 19,
which includes portions of Lake and Porter counties.
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