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William Payton Hamilton Jr.
Incident
Chief of Police William Hamilton died as a result of complications from cancer that developed from the Wade Dump Fire on February 2, 1978.
Chief Hamilton, who was serving as police captain, responded to the fire and remained at the scene for over four hours. During the ensuing clean-up and investigation, he provided foot patrol multiple times.
He was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung in 1984 and Pancreatic carcinoma unrelated to the lung cancer in 1988. He died as a result of complications on February 2, 1989, the 11th anniversary of the fire.
Chief of Police Hamilton was a United States Army veteran and served with the Chester Police Department for 30 years.
At 3:44 pm, members of the Chester Fire Department responded to 1 Flower Street for a fire at a rubber recycling facility directly below the Commodore Barry Bridge.
It was unknown to first responders that more than 3,000,000 gallons of toxic chemical waste were being stored on the site. At least 230 first responders responded to the fire, which took firefighters 10 hours to bring under control. During the response, firefighters were driven back due to exploding 55-gallon drums. One warehouse was destroyed, and two other warehouses were damaged in the fire. Investigators discovered more than 18,000 drums of toxic chemicals, tanker trucks leaking chemical waste into the ground, and ditches that had been dug to dump chemicals into the Delaware River.
In August 1980, the property owner was convicted of risking a catastrophe, failing to prevent a catastrophe, and violating the Clean Water Act. He was fined $30,000 and sentenced to one to two years in the county prison.
Click here to read more about the Wade Dump Fire and the officers killed from the effects of the toxic chemicals
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.
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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.
Chief of Police Hamilton gave the Chester City Police Department 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chester 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Payton Hamilton Jr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Chester City Police Department has lost 17 officers; 7 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 417 officers lost to accidents in PA, 33% of the 1,262 remembered there.
William is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
William is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1989, 1 officer at Chester City Police Department was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 5 years on record. The heaviest was 1986, with 2.
In 1989, 6 officers in PA were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 133 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 14.
In 1989, 84 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 21st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1989, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 60. Of the 7 lost to accidents at Chester City Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 44 and 55.5; the middle age was 50. William had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 16 years.
William was 60. Of the 412 lost to accidents in PA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48.3; the middle age was 38. William had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 8.6 years.
William was 60. 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. William had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 60. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. William had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 28.6% of these deaths at Chester City Police Department, more than any other month. Thursdays: 42.9%.
February holds 6.7% of these deaths in PA; October holds the most, 10.6%. Thursdays: 13.7%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 41.2% of all 17 deaths at Chester City Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was toxic chemicals, in 100% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 33% of all 1,262 deaths in PA, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was toxic chemicals, in 1.7% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was toxic chemicals, in 0.1% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was toxic chemicals, in 0.1% of these deaths.
His people
Chester City Police Department has 17 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Mark W. Allen, Jr.
Feb 1, 1902
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James M. McDade Dec 1, 1903
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William Bell Apr 19, 1917
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William H. Padgett Aug 28, 1917
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Francis E. Kowalski
Dec 16, 1929
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Ellery Bertram Purnsley
Nov 6, 1948
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Michael Neal Carter
Nov 8, 1974
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John T. Lewis
Jul 17, 1986
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Lawrence John Fiorelli
Aug 7, 1986
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Robert John Boyle, Sr.
Mar 28, 1988
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William Payton Hamilton, Jr.
Feb 2, 1989
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Michael James Joyce
Feb 1, 1993
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Connie Smith Hawkins
Jul 1, 1993
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Thomas Owen Pilkington
Aug 13, 1993
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Michael Douglas Beverly
Oct 16, 2001
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Avery E. Freeman
Apr 30, 2012
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Robert Lee Walker
May 2, 2017
Where
Military Service
William Payton Hamilton Jr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Payton Hamilton Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Chester City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
