Roll of Honor
William Lynn Freeland
Incident
Location: Pennsylvania Incident Date: Wednesday, August 17, 1921 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Shot and killed
Railroad Policeman William Freeland was shot and fatally wounded in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad yards in Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
He discovered five men trespassing on a flatcar at approximately 1:00 am. When he informed them that they were under arrest one of the men drew a revolver and shot him. Policeman Freeland returned fire and killed the man who shot him. Three of the other men were arrested while the remaining man fled the scene.
Policeman Freeland was taken to University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, where he succumbed to his wounds the following day.
Policeman Freeland was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, three sisters, and one brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-CA9FF640- 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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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.
Railroad Policeman Freeland served with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Thank you 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 Lynn Freeland served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Railroad Policeman William Lynn Freeland 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 51.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Police Department, 13 of 22 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lynn Freeland's cause is highlighted.
How William Lynn Freeland Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lynn Freeland is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Lynn Freeland was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
William Lynn Freeland served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Lynn Freeland’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
