William A. Miller

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch January 5, 1922

Age 45

Badge 120

The Vigil Panel 42 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Detective William Miller and Detective Francis Buckley were shot and killed by a suspect they were questioning in regards to the shooting of a patrolman the previous month. Detective Miller and Detective Buckley went to Public School #89, at Lenox Avenue and 135 Street, Manhattan, where they believed the suspect might be. They found the suspect and had him accompany them to the station to see if the wounded patrolman could identify him. Unknown to the detectives, about an hour earlier, the suspect had shot and killed a man during a hold-up. The detectives placed the suspect in a taxi cab and proceeded to the 38th Precinct station house. As they walked toward the station house after exiting the taxi, the suspect suddenly began to run. After taking a few steps, the suspect turned and drew a handgun from his sleeve. He opened fire, striking Detective Miller in the head, killing him. Detective Buckley attempted to pull his weapon but was shot before he could do so. He was transported to Harlem Hospital, where he died from his wounds the next day. The suspect fled on foot from the location. He was arrested four days later by members of the Philadelphia Police Department and returned to New York City. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The suspect was executed in August 1922. Detective Miller was survived by his wife and nine children. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Survivors

Detective Miller was survived by his wife and nine children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-A9F32469
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Miller served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Miller.

— 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 January 5, 1922

Age 45

Badge Number 120

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Detective Sergeant William A. Miller 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 97,772 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 97,772 officers

0% Felonious