Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

William H. Clary

Hudson Falls Police Department — Hudson Falls, NY

Accident

End of Watch December 29, 1978

Age 40

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 002

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman William Clary was killed in an automobile crash while attempting to stop a tractor-trailer on Main Street, just in front of the town hall and the police department. An officer on foot patrol had noticed that the doors on the tractor-trailer were not closed and were swinging open. The officer radioed to Patrolman Clary to stop the truck and inform the driver of the situation. As Patrolman Clary neared the truck, his patrol car went out of control, crossed the street, and struck a tree. Patrolman Clary was transported to Glens Falls Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later. Patrolman Clary had served with the Hudson Falls Police Department for ten years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-90FCC9DB
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Clary gave the Hudson Falls Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hudson Falls community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Clary.

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

Agency

Department Hudson Falls Police Department

Location Hudson Falls, NY

Platform Identity hfpd.washington.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 29, 1978

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 40

Badge Number 002

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman William H. Clary 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%.

Hudson Falls Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Accident

NY — Statewide

645

of 2,147 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. Clary's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William H. Clary Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

Years of Service