Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Bill Roberson was killed in an automobile crash during a pursuit. Patrolman Roberson was assisting a neighboring agency in the pursuit of a vehicle that fled a traffic stop. As the chase approached Graham, Patrolman Roberson attempted to intercept the fleeing vehicle on East Hanover Road. The driver, traveling over 100 mph, navigated the curve in the wrong lane. He crashed into Patrolman Roberson in a head-on collision, pushing his patrol car 25 feet backward. They were both pronounced dead at the scene. Patrolman Roberson was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and served with the Graham Police Department for over four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-A296CDEB- 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 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.
Patrolman Roberson gave the Graham Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Graham community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Alton Roberson, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman William Alton Roberson, Jr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
At Graham Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Alton Roberson, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William Alton Roberson, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Killed
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Alton Roberson, Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Graham Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
