Roll of Honor
Incident
Private John Williams and Private Jack Smith were shot and killed by a mob while responding to a riotous strike at the Pressed Steel Car Company plant in McKees Rocks. After killing the officers the mob robbed them of cash and other possessions. Deputy Harry Exley, of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Department, was also shot and killed during the riots. Private Williams was a United States Army veteran and served with the Pennsylvania State Police for two years. He was assigned to Troop A, Greensburg.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-6CE10778- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. John 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.
Private Williams gave the Pennsylvania State Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania, 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
John L. Williams served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Private John 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Pennsylvania State Police, 34 of 87 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John L. Williams's cause is highlighted.
How John L. Williams Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Williams is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John L. Williams was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
John L. Williams served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit John L. Williams’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
86 officers from Pennsylvania State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
