William Shields

Pennsylvania State Constable - Allegheny County — Pittsburgh, PA

Felonious

End of Watch October 16, 1903

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Constable William Shields was shot and killed in the Glassport Hotel, along Allegheny Avenue in Glassport, while attempting to serve a warrant.

Earlier in the day two subjects had caused their dog to attack a railroad worker. The victim had obtained warrants on the two men and the local Justice of the Peace then requested Constable Shields serve the warrants.

Constable Shields and two Glassport police officers located the men at the Glassport Hotel. One of them was taken into custody in front of the hotel without incident. The officers located the second man inside the hotel's restaurant. As they attempted to arrest him the man opened fire with a pistol, wounding one of the Glassport officers and killing Constable Shields.

The subject was killed by return gunfire. The second subject was able to escape.

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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.
Constable Shields served with the Pennsylvania State Constable.
Thank you for your service to the Pittsburgh community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Shields.

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

Agency

Department Pennsylvania State Constable - Allegheny County

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Platform Identity pscacco.allegheny.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 16, 1903

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Constable William Shields 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pennsylvania State Constable - Allegheny County, 10 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90.9% of this agency's fallen.

Pennsylvania State Constable - Allegheny County

of 11 officers

90.9% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious