Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Bill Schwartz died from injuries sustained when he was stabbed during a domestic disturbance call at the Tracy Park Apartment Complex at 2926 N Tracy Boulevard in Tracy on March 1st, 1992.
He had responded to a call from a child who reported that his mother's boyfriend was throwing things around and had pushed his mother. When Officer Schwartz arrived at the apartment the suspect informed him that there had been a fight. Officer Schwartz found a woman and her son huddled in the corner in another room. Once the woman walked past the suspect he pulled out a knife and ran towards her. Officer Schwartz pulled the suspect away and a struggle ensued during which he was stabbed three times.
A teenager living in the complex was able to radio for help and was credited for obtaining life-saving aid for Officer Schwartz.
Officer Schwartz was transported to Santa Clara Medical Center.
The suspect turned himself in the next day. He pleaded guilty to several charges and served eight years for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He died in 2011 of a heroin overdose.
Officer Schwartz's spinal cord was cut during the assault, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down and confined to a wheelchair. He succumbed to complications of the wound on August 10th, 2021.
Officer Schwartz had served with the Tracy Police Department for 12 years and had previously served three years with the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-AAE45CD8- 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.
Police Officer Schwartz gave the Tracy Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tracy community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Schwartz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William Ray Schwartz 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 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 Tracy Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Ray Schwartz's cause is highlighted.
How William Ray Schwartz Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Ray Schwartz is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Ray Schwartz was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Tracy Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
