William E. Orrison Jr.

Brunswick Police Department — Brunswick, MD

Felonious

End of Watch June 29, 1909

Age 45

The Vigil Panel 23 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Policeman William Orrison was attacked and beaten to death by a group of people after he arrested a 15-year-old boy at the park for stealing rides on a merry-go-round.

Policeman Orrison was on his way to the magistrate's office and had to walk past the boy's home. As they did so he was attacked by a dozen of the boy's friends and family. As he was being hit and kicked, one of the attackers jerked his nightstick from his hand and dealt him a terrific blow on the side of his head. As he fell to the ground the crowd disappeared. Policeman Orrison died without regaining consciousness.

The suspect who struck Policeman Orrison with his nightstick was identified, arrested, and charged with manslaughter. At his trial, the suspect's attorney acknowledged that his client struck the officer but argued that others struck him also, and they could have caused his death. The jury found him not guilty.

Policeman Orrison was survived by his wife and several children.

Survivors

Policeman Orrison was survived by his wife and several children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-B07D1FBC
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.
Policeman Orrison served with the Brunswick Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Brunswick community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Orrison.

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

Agency

Department Brunswick Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Brunswick, Frederick County, MD

Platform Identity bpd.frederick.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 29, 1909

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Officer's nightstick

Policeman William E. Orrison 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 97,772 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 Brunswick Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Brunswick Police Department

of 4 officers

25% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious