Arthur L. Williams
Agency patch
Police Officer

Arthur L. Williams

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ
Felonious
End of Watch March 1, 1978
Age 43
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Badge 1547
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Arthur Williams was shot and killed while chasing two men who had broken into his apartment. As Officer Williams awoke and sat up in his bed, a 17-year-old standing at his door shot him in the heart. The suspect was standing watch as the other 23-year-old intruder searched the apartment. Officer Williams managed to grab his service revolver and fired three wild shots as he chased the suspects down the stairs before collapsing. Both suspects were eventually apprehended and sentenced to life. The gunman was paroled on December 22, 1992. Officer Williams had served with the Newark Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-A0549D28
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Williams gave the Newark Police Division 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Williams.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Newark, NJ
Platform Identity npdpd.essex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 1, 1978
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 1547
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Police Officer Arthur L. Williams is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NJ, 229 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.4% of this state's fallen. That is 35.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Newark Police Division, 28 of 58 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.

Newark Police Division
28
of 58 officers
48.3% Felonious
NJ — Statewide
229
of 646 officers
35.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arthur L. Williams's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Arthur L. Williams Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
18
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Arthur L. Williams is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Arthur L. Williams was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909