William J. Otis
Agency patch
Patrolman

William J. Otis

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch March 3, 1971
Age 23
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 1 mo
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Otis was killed by a gunshot while he and his partner responded to a burglary in progress call at a home on Centre Avenue in Oakland. The owner of the residence, thinking Officer Otis was the burglar, shot him as he entered a hallway. Patrolman Otis was taken to Presbyterian University Hospital where he died within the hour. Patrolman Otis was a U.S Army Reserves veteran and had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 13 months. He was survived by his wife, two year old son, and parents, and sister. He was assigned to the Zone 4 Police Station Oakland.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two year old son, and parents, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Otis gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA
Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 3, 1971
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 1 mo
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

William J. Otis served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 23. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 1.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has 101 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman William J. Otis

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police · End of Watch March 3, 1971

Military Service

William J. Otis served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit William J. Otis’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-W

Also Remembered

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