William Henry Cunliffe

Seattle Police Department — Seattle, WA

Felonious

End of Watch June 17, 1911

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 25 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 59

Incident

Police Officer William Cunliffe was shot and killed by two suspicious men at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Columbia Street. As he approached both suspects, one suspect shot and killed him. Before he died, Officer Cunliffe was able to return fire but did not hit either suspect. The suspects were never identified or arrested. Officer Cunliffe had been with the Seattle Police Department for three years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-94FA8E39
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.
Police Officer Cunliffe gave the Seattle Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cunliffe.

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

Agency

Department Seattle Police Department

Location Seattle, WA

Platform Identity seatpd.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 1911

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Never identified

Police Officer William Henry Cunliffe 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Seattle Police Department, 44 of 60 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.

Seattle Police Department

of 60 officers

73.3% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious