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Police Officer

William Washington

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 16, 1980

Age 30

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Badge 9614

The Vigil Panel 269 · Column 1 · Line 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 378

Incident

Police Officer William Washington was shot and killed from ambush while responding to a domestic disturbance call at the 2200 block of South Bonaffon Terrace in southwest Philadelphia. The suspect had barricaded himself in his residence after assaulting his wife and children. When Officer Washington approached the house at 5:00 p.m., the suspect shot Officer Washington with a rifle from a second-floor window. The 34-year-old suspect was taken into custody by other officers arriving on the scene. He had been convicted of attempted murder in 1969 and again in 1971. He was convicted of Officer Washington's murder and sentenced to life. Officer Washington was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for nine years. He was engaged to be married at the time of his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and sister.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Police Officer Washington gave the Philadelphia Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 16, 1980

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 30

Badge Number 9614

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

William Washington 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1980, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

William was 30. 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 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded