Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Stecker succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on February 22nd, 1898, when he interrupted a burglary of the U.S. Post Office, at the intersection of Main Street and Elmira Street.
He caught several mean attempting to break into the front door of the post office on Main Street at approximately 3:00 am. One of the man opened fire on him, striking him in the head. Despite his wound, he and several citizens chased the suspects a short distance before losing sight of them.
Officer Stecker was taken to a local doctor's office and then transported to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. He succumbed to the wound on April 1st, 1898, while still in the hospital.
The subjects involved in the burglary were never apprehended.
Police Officer Stecker was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Police Officer Stecker was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-DAD440C8- Stewardship
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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
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Stecker served with the Athens Borough Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Athens community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William Stecker 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Stecker's cause is highlighted.
How William Stecker Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Stecker is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Stecker was killed by gun; unknown type.