Walter T. Williams III
Agency patch
Officer

Walter T. Williams III

Watertown Police Department — Watertown, CT
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch December 18, 1992
Age 34
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 80
The Vigil Panel 138 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Walter Williams was patrolling his area at approximately 4:00 am when he noticed two suspicious males at the intersection of Orange Street and Ward Street in Waterbury. He was about to question the males when one of them checked Officer Williams' chest to see if he was wearing his vest, which he was. The suspect then pulled out a handgun and shot Officer Williams in the head, leaving him alone next to the police car to die. A passerby noticed Officer Williams and used the police radio to call for help. The suspect was found shortly after that morning and was sentenced to death. In 2017, his death sentence was overturned, and he was resentenced to life in prison without parole. Officer Williams was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Waterbury Police Department for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-5B4CF21F
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Walter. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Walter is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Officer Williams gave the Waterbury Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterbury 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 Watertown, CT
Platform Identity watepd.naugatuck.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1992
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 80
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Walter T. Williams III served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer Walter T. Williams III 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 CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Watertown Police Department, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.

Watertown Police Department
5
of 11 officers
45.5% Felonious
CT — Statewide
74
of 169 officers
43.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter T. Williams III's cause is highlighted.

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

How Walter T. Williams III Compares

Age at Death
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter T. Williams III is highlighted in Dec.

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. Walter T. Williams III was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

Walter T. Williams III served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

Visit Walter T. Williams III’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.