William Baumfeld
Agency patch
Patrolman

William Baumfeld

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch June 28, 1963
Age 33
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 21659
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Bill Baumfeld was shot and killed as he attempted to stop a robbery in a hotel at 4:30 am. Patrolman Baumfield and his partner went off duty after making an arrest earlier in the evening. The two patrolmen were to appear in court early the next morning, so they went to the Congress Hotel on West 69th Street for a few hours of sleep. The patrolman got rooms on the first floor, near the check-in counter. As they slept, two youths armed with handguns entered the hotel and robbed one of the workers. The boys then came to the room where Patrolman Baumfeld was sleeping and attempted to rob him. Patrolman Baumfeld was killed as he tried to stop the robbery and apprehend the suspect. Both suspects, 17 and 20, were arrested. The 17-year-old admitted that he shot Patrolman Baumfeld. He was convicted of murder, sentenced to life, and paroled on July 22, 1982. The other suspect, convicted of murder and sentenced to life, was paroled on May 15, 1985. Patrolman Baumfeld was a Korean War veteran and had served with the New York City Police Department for six years, assigned to the 4th Division.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and brother.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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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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.
Patrolman Baumfeld gave the New York City Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York 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

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

Service Record

End of Watch June 28, 1963
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 33
Badge Number 21659
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

William Baumfeld served in the the United States military 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.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1963, 71 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 100th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 33. 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 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman William Baumfeld

New York City Police Department · End of Watch June 28, 1963

Military Service

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

Visit William Baumfeld’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 35-E

Also Remembered

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