William J. Camp

Springfield Police Department — Springfield, IL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch August 25, 1885

Age 39

Badge 2

The Vigil Panel 8 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 9

Incident

Patrolman William Camp and Patrolman Frederick Gall arrested a subject for drunk and disorderly at his residence on South 6th Street, between Adams Street and Monroe Street, early Sunday morning. While awaiting bail, the offender dwelled on the arrest and blamed the arresting officers for his predicament. When the subject bailed out, he made a statement that not only was he going to kill his wife, but that he also intended to take revenge upon the arresting officers. When both officers began their foot patrol rounds at 7:00 pm, they passed in front of the offender’s residence. As the officers approached, the offender cursed them, cocked two revolvers and began firing both weapons which struck both officers. Patrolman Camp was able to return fire, killing the suspect, before he died at the scene. Patrolman Gall was transported to the hospital and succumbed to his injuries two days later. Patrolman Camp was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-9DB69331
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.

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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.
Patrolman Camp served with the Springfield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield 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 Springfield Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Springfield, Sangamon County, IL

Platform Identity spd.sangamon.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 25, 1885

Age 39

Badge Number 2

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

William J. Camp served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman William J. Camp is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Springfield Police Department, 9 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90% of this agency's fallen.

Springfield Police Department

of 10 officers

90% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious