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William A. Miller
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

William A. Miller

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch January 5, 1922
Age 45
Badge 120
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

William A. Miller was a detective sergeant of the Detective Division, carrying shield 120.

On the evening of 5 January 1922, he and Detective Sergeant Francis J. M. Buckley were bringing a prisoner, 20-year-old Luther Boddy, to the West 135th Street station house. About a hundred feet from the door, Boddy pulled a hidden gun and opened fire. Detective Sergeant Miller was shot in the head and died instantly. He was 46. Buckley was mortally wounded and died the next day. Boddy escaped in a commandeered taxi to Philadelphia, was caught after a massive manhunt, and was executed at Sing Sing.

Miller and his wife had eight children. In May 1923 he and Buckley were both awarded the Medal of Honor.

Survivors

Detective Miller was survived by his wife and nine children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Miller served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Miller.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department New York City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 5, 1922
Age 45
Badge Number 120
Gender Male
Assignment Detective Division

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 45. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Sergeant William A. Miller

New York City Police Department · End of Watch January 5, 1922

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-W

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