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Officer

William R. Cray

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA
Veteran → Accident
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch April 27, 1870
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 12 · Column 2 · Line 18 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 39

Incident

Officer William Cray died of injuries he sustained in the Virginia Capitol Disaster.

Officer Cray was a veteran of the Confederate Army prior to joining the Richmond Police Department.

On April 27th, 1870, a balcony collapsed inside of the Virginia State Capitol, killing 62 people, including 12 law enforcement officers.

Following the Civil War, the United States Army installed a mayor in Richmond. In January 1870 Virginia's governor appointed a new city council, which then appointed a new mayor. However, the previous mayor refused to cede the mayorship and the city operated with two mayors and governments, including two separate police departments.

The balcony collapse occurred during a Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals hearing to determine which of the city's two mayors and police departments was considered legitimate. Because of the interest in the case, hundreds of citizens crowded onto the balcony to view the case. The weight of the spectators caused the structure to give way, killing dozens of elected officials, law enforcement officers, and citizens, and injuring hundreds more.

Following what became known as the Capitol Disaster, the court reconvened and ultimately ruled that the newly appointed mayor was the legitimate mayor.

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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.
Officer Cray served with the Richmond Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Richmond, VA
Platform Identity rpd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1870
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

William R. Cray served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

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

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1870, 12 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 133rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 26. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.

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

When

April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Richmond Police Department has 40 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer William R. Cray

Richmond Police Department · End of Watch April 27, 1870

Military Service

William R. Cray served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit William R. Cray’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 39-E

Also Remembered

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