Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal William Hillyer succumbed to gunshot wounds when he was shot by a man who had a long-standing feud with the Hillyer family. The suspect located Marshal Hillyer in a drugstore and shot him with his shotgun. Marshal Hillyer was transported to a Yakima hospital where he succumbed to his wounds four days later. The suspect was acquitted of the murder charges. Marshal Hillyer was a Royal Navy veteran and served with the Zillah Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-5A23EB00- 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.
Marshal Hillyer served with the Zillah Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Zillah 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William J. Hillyer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Marshal William J. Hillyer 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Hillyer's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Hillyer Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Hillyer is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Hillyer was killed by shotgun.