Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

William J. Ramos Jr.

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 14, 1960

Age 28

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Badge 16532

The Vigil Panel 95 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman William Ramos was shot and killed after discovering a robbery in progress at 1:30 a.m. Patrolman Ramos was walking a foot post when he observed a man and a woman leaving a hotel. When the suspects observed the officer, the male suspect drew a weapon and exchanged gunfire with him. Patrolman Ramos and the suspect were both struck three times. Patrolman Ramos was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he died from his wounds. The suspect recovered from his wounds and was charged with murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death, with the conviction later overturned by the United States Supreme Court. The suspect was convicted again after a second trial and sentenced to death again. That sentence was commuted by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in November 1967. He was paroled in 1983 after serving 23 years in prison. He later returned to prison, where he died while serving for unrelated convictions. Patrolman Ramos was a United States Marine Corps Korean War veteran and served with the New York City Police Department for 18 months, assigned to the 80th Precinct. He was survived by his wife and brother. Patrolman Ramos was posthumously awarded the News Hero of the Month in July 1960.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-11620491
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. Marine Corps. 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 Ramos gave the New York City Police Department 1 year.
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

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch June 14, 1960

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 28

Badge Number 16532

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

William J. Ramos Jr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman William J. Ramos Jr. 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York City Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

365

of 1,237 officers

29.5% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious