William Sam Beam

Abilene Police Department — Abilene, TX

Cardiac

End of Watch July 18, 1940

Age 70

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 77 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Officer Sam Beam suffered a fatal heart attack moments after struggling with a drunk man on China Street.

He and his partner had responded to reports that the man had kicked in doors on two homes. When they arrived at the location they found the subject asleep. When they woke him up he immediately began fighting with both officers and then fled on foot.

Officer Beam's partner chased the man into a nearby barn. He had two citizens watch the barn as he returned to the patrol car to retrieve his flashlight. When he returned to the patrol he found Officer Beam slumped over in the front seat.

The subject was fined only $50 for being a habitual offender.

Officer Beam had served with the Abilene Police Department for over 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-D8CD809D
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Beam gave the Abilene Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Abilene community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Beam.

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

Agency

Department Abilene Police Department

Location Abilene, TX

Platform Identity apd.taylor.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 18, 1940

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 70

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Officer William Sam Beam is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 88 of 2,421 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.6% of this state's fallen.

At Abilene Police Department, 1 of 8 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 12.5% of this agency's fallen.

Abilene Police Department

of 8 officers

12.5% Cardiac

TX — Statewide

of 2,421 officers

3.6% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac