William T. Byers
Patrolman

William T. Byers

Columbia Police Department — Columbia, MO
Cardiac
End of Watch October 18, 1969
Age 65
The Vigil Panel 106 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Byers suffered a fatal heart attack while directing traffic.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-32EC3011
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Byers served with the Columbia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Byers.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Columbia, Boone County, MO
Platform Identity cpd.boone.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 18, 1969
Age 65
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Patrolman William T. Byers is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MO, 32 of 813 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.9% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Columbia Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Columbia Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Cardiac
MO — Statewide
32
of 813 officers
3.9% Cardiac
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Cardiac

National Cause Distribution

How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William T. Byers's cause is highlighted.

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

How William T. Byers Compares

Age at Death
65
This officer
Avg for Cardiac: 48.6 years

When Cardiac Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. William T. Byers is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
124
Feb
105
Mar
99
Apr
116
May
115
Jun
95
Jul
94
Aug
104
Sep
109
Oct
121
Nov
113
Dec
111

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Columbia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.