Keith L. Williams
Agency patch
Detective

Keith L. Williams

Felonious
End of Watch November 13, 1989
Age 34
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 4101
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Keith L. Williams and Detective Richard J. Guerzon were shot and killed by a prisoner as they were returning him to Riker's Island. The detectives had picked up the prisoner at Riker's Island to bring him to the Queen's District Attorney's Office so a polygraph test could be administered. The prisoner was secured in a room and handcuffed to a pipe on the wall, but was left unsupervised. It was during this time that their killer broke into a locker within his reach and obtained a handgun. When the polygraph was canceled, the prisoner was cuffed behind his back to be returned to Riker’s Island. As the detectives drove along the Grand Central Parkway near LaGuardia Airport, the prisoner drew the weapon and ordered the detectives to pull the car to the side of the road. As soon as the vehicle stopped, the prisoner killed both officers. He uncuffed himself with the detectives' handcuff keys and fled. The detectives' killer, 25, was apprehended a few hours after the murder. He was subsequently convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to 91 years to life. He will be eligible for parole in 2079. Detective Williams was assigned to the Queens District Attorney's Squad for eight years. He is survived by his wife and daughter. In September 2019, 172nd Street and Jamaica Avenue were renamed Detective Keith Williams Way.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Williams gave the New York City Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Williams.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch November 13, 1989
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 4101
Gender Male
Assignment Queens DA's Office Squad

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Keith 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 1989, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Keith was 34. 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. Keith had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Keith L. Williams

New York City Police Department · End of Watch November 13, 1989

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

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