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Patrolman

William Steven Mathews

Palm Beach Gardens Police Department — Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Felonious

End of Watch July 13, 1979

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman William Mathews was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a drunk driver that he was attempting to stop on I-95 near PGA Boulevard. He had driven alongside the vehicle in an attempt to motion the driver to pull over, but the driver swerved into his lane and struck his motorcycle. His motorcycle then left the roadway and struck a utility pole. The driver fled the scene but was arrested at a nearby gas station by members of the Florida Highway Patrol. The man was charged with driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and improper lane change. Patrolman Mathews had served with the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department for only six weeks. He had previously served with Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, the Boynton Beach Police Department, Palm SPrings Police Department, South Palm Beach Police Department, North Lauderdale Police Department, and as a park ranger with the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-BC899E38
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Mathews served with the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Palm Beach Gardens community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Mathews.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Palm Beach Gardens Police Department

Location Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Platform Identity pbgpd.palmbeach.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1979

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Arrested

Patrolman William Steven Mathews 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Palm Beach Gardens Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Steven Mathews's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Steven Mathews Compares

Offender Outcome

Arrested

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Steven Mathews is highlighted in Jul.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Steven Mathews was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518