William F. McDonald

Binghamton Police Department — Binghamton, NY

Felonious

End of Watch November 30, 1920

Age 35

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 48

The Vigil Panel 40 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Patrolman William McDonald was shot and killed while questioning a robbery suspect. The man was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. The suspect was paroled in 1945. On December 17, 1948, he shot and killed the proprietor of a store he got into an argument with in Gravity, Pennsylvania. He was convicted of first degree murder and sent back to prison for life on June 20, 1949. Patrolman McDonald had been with the agency for five years. He was survived by his expectant wife and 1-year-old son and is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Johnson City, Broome County, New York.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and 1-year-old son and is buried in St.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-E8F644E7
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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 McDonald gave the Binghamton Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Binghamton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McDonald.

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

Agency

Department Binghamton Police Department

Location Binghamton, NY

Platform Identity bpd.broome.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 30, 1920

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 35

Badge Number 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Paroled in 1945

Patrolman William F. McDonald 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Binghamton Police Department, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Binghamton Police Department

of 7 officers

71.4% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious