William B. Heaney

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 3, 1913

Age 25

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Badge 2761

The Vigil Panel 27 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman William Heaney was shot and killed after responding to the sounds of shots being fired in front of 235 Mulberry Street in Manhattan. When Patrolman Heaney arrived, he found a suspect had just murdered another man. The suspect shot and killed Patrolman Heaney as he approached to make the arrest. When Patrolman Teare arrived, he observed a man with a smoking revolver, and when he attempted to disarm the suspect, the suspect fired two shots wounding Patrolman Teare. Patrolman Teare was removed to St. Vincent's Hospital where he died the next day from his wounds. The suspect was apprehended several days later. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On June 21, 1916, only eight days before his execution date, a gun was smuggled into the prison and given to the subject. In the early morning of June 22, 1916, the suspect called Guard Daniel McCarthy, of the New York State Department of Correctional Services, to his cell and asked for a slop bucket. When Guard McCarthy opened the cell door, the suspect shot and killed the guard, grabbed his keys, and escaped from the prison. The subject was arrested a short time later and returned to Sing Sing Prison. He was kept sedated until being executed in the electric chair on June 30, 1916. Patrolman Heaney was a U.S Army veteran and had served with the New York City Police Department for three months. He was assigned to the 12th Precinct, the present day 5th Precinct. His wife survived him.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-44723F1B
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Probationary Patrolman Heaney served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— 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 May 3, 1913

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Age 25

Badge Number 2761

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Executed in 1916

Military Service

William B. Heaney served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Probationary Patrolman William B. Heaney 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