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William E. McLean III
Incident
Sergeant Bill McLean died as the result of cancer that he developed following his assignment as a SWAT operator at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.
Sergeant McLean had served with the Town of Newburgh Police Department for 26 years.
September 11, 2001 - The Years After
Sergeant William E. McLean III was assigned to the search and recovery at the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001. He was 34 years old that fall.
He died on May 5, 2024 - 22 years and 7 months later - of an illness contracted there. He was 56.
He is one of 599 officers honored here.
The most recent of these deaths was October 24, 2025.
Officers who worked the search, rescue, and recovery at the World Trade Center site breathed contaminated air for weeks and months afterward. Many developed cancers and respiratory disease, and they have gone on dying of it ever since.
Seventy-two officers were killed on the morning itself. Hundreds more have died in the years that followed. They are honored here together, because the same attack killed them all. With some it simply took longer.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, twin brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-VGP9-CPSM-Hearlier record number BO-US-NY-F4F48D99- 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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Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.
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Tributes
You walked into it and it took years to finish the job.
Sergeant McLean gave the Town of Newburgh Police Department 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newburgh community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant McLean.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
William is the only officer of Town of Newburgh Police Department remembered here.
William is one of 628 officers lost to illness in NY, 29.5% of the 2,126 remembered there.
William is one of 2,026 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,543 remembered there.
William is one of 2,978 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.8% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2024, 43 officers in NY were lost to illness, the 6th heaviest of 41 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 65.
In 2024, 56 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 6th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2024, 57 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 6th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
William was 56. Of the 613 lost to illness in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 49 and 61; the middle age was 55. William had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
William was 56. Of the 1,994 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. William had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
William was 56. Of the 2,915 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. William had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in NY; October holds the most, 14%. Sundays: 15%.
May holds 6.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 15%. Sundays: 14.1%.
May holds 6.7% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Sundays: 13.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Town of Newburgh Police Department. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 100% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 29.5% of all 2,126 deaths in NY, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 83.8% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 29.5% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 8.8% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 20.1% of these deaths.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Town of Newburgh Police Department are honored on badge.nw.