William L. Brett

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA

Felonious

End of Watch December 6, 1921

The Vigil Panel 99 · Column 3 · Line 19 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 239

Incident

Policeman William Brett and Policeman Harry Clester were shot and killed while transporting six subjects to the police station. The two officers had stopped a car containing the six men and decided to take them to the station for further questioning. One officer drove the suspects' car while the other officer followed behind them. During the drive the suspects shot the officer driving their car. When the other officer stopped the police car to see what happened he was shot too. Five suspects were apprehended 12 days later and the sixth committed suicide after being tracked to the desert and surrounded. Two of the suspects that were apprehended were hung at San Quentin Prison on April 21st, 1924.

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policeman Brett served with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Brett.

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

Agency

Department Los Angeles Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA

Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 6, 1921

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

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 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month

By day of the week

III

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