William T. Gunn

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch November 27, 1992

Age 32

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 1054

The Vigil Panel 138 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Detective William Gunn succumbed to a gunshot wound received in 1989 when he was shot in the head by a suspect. Detective Gunn and three other officers were investigating two murders and went to the home of a man wanted for questioning in those murders. When the officers arrived, the suspect exited and opened fire, wounding one of the officers. Detective Gunn ran to assist the fallen officer and was shot in the head by the suspect. He remained in a coma from the time of the shooting until his death. The suspect escaped by hiding in a nearby apartment after killing the 67-year-old female occupant. Later that week, the suspect was shot and wounded by an off-duty New York City Police Officer as he tried to rob a store. The suspect again escaped but shot and killed himself later that night as police closed in on him. Detective Gunn had served with the New York City Police Department for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Detective Gunn was assigned to the 67th Precinct Detective Squad and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Detective. After his death, a portion of Snyder Avenue between Nostrand Avenue and Rogers Avenue was renamed Detective William T. Gunn Avenue.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-8FA91F23
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.
Detective Gunn gave the New York City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Gunn.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 27, 1992

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 32

Badge Number 1054

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Detective William T. Gunn 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious