Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Bill Roberson was killed in an automobile crash during a pursuit. Patrolman Roberson was assisting a neighboring agency in the pursuit of a vehicle that fled a traffic stop. As the chase approached Graham, Patrolman Roberson attempted to intercept the fleeing vehicle on East Hanover Road. The driver, traveling over 100 mph, navigated the curve in the wrong lane. He crashed into Patrolman Roberson in a head-on collision, pushing his patrol car 25 feet backward. They were both pronounced dead at the scene. Patrolman Roberson was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and served with the Graham Police Department for over four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-A296CDEB- 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 William. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. William 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.
Patrolman Roberson gave the Graham Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Graham 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Alton Roberson Jr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman William Alton Roberson Jr. is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen. That is 30.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Graham Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Alton Roberson Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William Alton Roberson Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Alton Roberson Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Military Service
William Alton Roberson Jr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Alton Roberson Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Graham Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
