Roll of Honor
William J. Chapin
Incident
Sergeant William Chapin drowned in the Buttermilk Creek gorge in Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park while attempting to rescue two students who had been swept into the icy waters.
Sergeant Chapin was on one of his days off when he was called in to assist with the rescue. His body was found four days later.
Sergeant Chapin also served part-time with the New York State Park Police.
Sergeant Chapin, today marks 37 years since you lost your life trying to save the lives of others. You and your heroic acts have not been forgotten, Brother.
God Bless.
Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr. Harvard University Police Department March 15th, 2023
In Our Keeping
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- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Chapin served with the Ithaca College Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management.
Thank you for your service to the Ithaca community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Chapin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant William J. Chapin is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Chapin's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Chapin Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Chapin is highlighted in Mar.