William Beasley

Orlando Police Department — Orlando, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 1, 1885

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 8 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 15

Incident

Officer William Beasley was shot and killed on Dec. 24 while subduing an Orlando bartender as part of an attempt to quell a riot in 1885. Officer Beasley had ordered the subject to move along on an overly crowded street but the subject resisted, obtained a pistol, and shot Officer Beasley when the lawman tried to subdue him. Officer Beasley's murderer was tried and hanged. Officer Beasley was survived by his wife and daughter. He was a Confederate Civil War Veteran who served as a private in the 1st Florida Calvary, Company D.

Survivors

Officer Beasley was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-B41C55F9
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

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 Beasley served with the Orlando Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando 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

Department Orlando Police Department

Location Orlando, FL

Platform Identity opd.orange.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1885

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed

Military Service

William Beasley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer William Beasley is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Orlando Police Department, 10 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Orlando Police Department

of 16 officers

62.5% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious