Roll of Honor
William J. Perry
Incident
Police Officer William Perry was and killed by a subject he had asked to not to smoke a cigarette on a PATH train. Officer Perry, who was working in plainclothes, asked the subject to put out his cigarette. The subject refused, and at the next stop Officer Perry attempted to eject the subject from the train at the Journal Square station in Jersey City, New Jersey. A struggle ensued and the subject drew a handgun from his coat and fatally shot Officer Perry. The subject then fled the train station and stole a car. He was apprehended ten days later in Atlanta, Georgia. It was later determined that the subject was wanted in Jersey City for several shootings. The man was sentenced to 44 years in prison, but was released in June 2003 after serving only 22 years. Officer Perry and served with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-C6ABD13D- 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.
Police Officer Perry gave the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Perry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William J. Perry 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, 41 of 60 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Perry's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Perry Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 2003
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Perry is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Perry was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
59 officers from Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
