William Leath Mulligan
Agency patch
Detective

William Leath Mulligan

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch April 12, 1932
Age 40
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 64 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective William Mulligan and Captain Parr were shot and killed when they attempted to arrest two men inside their apartment in the 200 block of East Market Street. Both suspects were wanted in connection with a series of burglaries. Both suspects were captured a short time later. One of the suspects told police he shot the two officers because he thought they were gangsters when they entered his apartment. He was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and executed in the electric chair on April 14, 1933.

Survivors

Detective Mulligan served with the Louisville Police Department for 13 years and was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtn6ckx8cmg541952d8q0
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Mulligan gave the Louisville Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Mulligan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY
Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 12, 1932
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

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.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 40. 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. William had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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

Louisville Police Department has 91 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective William Leath Mulligan

Louisville Police Department · End of Watch April 12, 1932

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E

↑