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Patrol Officer

William G. Pfalmer Jr.

Anchorage Police Department — Anchorage, AK

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch December 26, 1970

Age 45

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 236 · Column 4 · Line 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Also Remembered Department 9

Incident

Officer William Pfalmer succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 17 years earlier after stopping of a stolen vehicle containing three juveniles.

As Officer Pfalmer approached the stolen vehicle on June 9, 1953 the driver sped away. As the vehicle drove away Officer Pfalmer shot out its transmission, disabling it. When he approached the vehicle a second time one of the suspects opened fire on him, striking him in the left arm and right shoulder, shattering spine. The wound to the spine paralyzed Officer Pfalmer from the chest down. Over the next 17 years he underwent numerous surgeries as his health continued to deteriorate. He finally succumbed to the wound while undergoing a corrective surgery.

Officer Pfalmer was a US Coast Guard veteran and had served with the Anchorage Police Department for 3 years. He had previously served with the Alaska Territorial Police.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, mother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Coast Guard, salute.nw. One record, 3 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.
Patrol Officer Pfalmer gave the Anchorage Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Anchorage 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 Anchorage Police Department

Type Other

Location Anchorage, Anchorage Municipality, AK

Platform Identity apd.anchorage.ak.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 26, 1970

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

William G. Pfalmer Jr. served in the the United States military (1943â1945) 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 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

William was 45. 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 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded