Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman William Craig contracted influenza while performing his assigned duties during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.
The Wilmington Police Department had been tasked with enforcing local health laws to help prevent the spread of influenza, as well as performing their regular police duties.
Patrolman Craig had served with the Wilmington Police Department for 15 years.
Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law EnforcementAlso known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job. The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen. Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.
Also known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job.
The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen.
Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.
Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law Enforcement
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-0BF5D882- 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 Craig gave the Wilmington Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wilmington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Craig.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Freeman Craig is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 37 of 664 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 5.6% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Wilmington Police Dept., 2 of 12 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Freeman Craig's cause is highlighted.
How William Freeman Craig Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. William Freeman Craig is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Wilmington Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
