Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police William Cann succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on June 11th, 1974, when he was shot during a community meeting to discuss the relations between the police department and the Hispanic community. The meeting was being held in Our Lady of the Rosary Church at 703 C Street. Five shots were fired from a .30-caliber rifle through a window from approximately 60 feet away. Chief Cann was hit twice in the neck, and three civilians were shot. The three civilians survived. The Chicano Liberation Front claimed credit for the assassination. Four men were arrested in 1981 and charged with Chief Cann's murder. On March 20, 1984, one, now 36, said to be the triggerman, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 5 years to life. On January 7, 1991, he was released and returned to the New Mexico Penitentiary to complete a term he was serving when he was transferred to California for Chief Cann's murder. Two weeks later he was found dead in his prison cell from a drug overdose. The Chicano Liberation Front was a little know organization that worked to resolve Mexican-American issues in the early 70s. Their attacks on law enforcement led to their quick demise. Chief Cann had served as the Chief of the Union City Police Department for 15 months. He had previously served 11 years in law enforcement with the San Anselmo Police Department, Novato Police Department, and San Bruno Police Department.
Survivors
Chief Cann was survived by his wife, mother, two sons, and one daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-88776B75- Stewardship
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Cann gave the Union City Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Union City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Cann.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police William M. Cann 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William M. Cann's cause is highlighted.
How William M. Cann Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William M. Cann is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William M. Cann was killed by rifle; .30 caliber.