William R. McDaniel

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 6, 1934

Age 36

Tour of Duty 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 68 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 232

Incident

Officer William McDaniel was shot and killed as he and a tow truck driver were impounding a car that had been abandoned after a crash on Mangrove Avenue. Officer McDaniel was investigating the collision and the suspicion that the man had been drinking while driving. While they hooked the car to the tow truck, the man returned to the scene and fatally wounded both men. Officer McDaniel was able to return fire and wound the suspect. He was later shot and killed by a sheriff's posse when he fired at them. Officer McDaniel was a United States Navy WWI veteran and had been appointed to California Highway Patrol six months prior.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-1BDD9B46
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer McDaniel served with the California Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department California Highway Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 6, 1934

Tour of Duty 6 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

William R. McDaniel served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer William R. McDaniel 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.

California Highway Patrol

of 233 officers

30.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious