Roll of Honor
Incident
On 23rd January 1909 two men waited outside the Schnurmann factory watching for the regular weekly delivery of the wages.
The car stopped to allow the worker holding the bag of money to open the gates; as it started to pull off, one of the awaiting robbers grabbed him and tried to take the bag from him, but a tussle broke out. As they wrestled the second robber joined the fight, drew his gun and fired several times.
Police Constables Tyler and Newman were at the nearby police station and heard the shots. They left the station and chased the two robbers down Chesnut Road. Part way down the road a passer-by threw one of the robbers to the ground. As they wrestled, the second robber fired at the passer-by four times, hitting him three times.
As the two robbers ran down the street, other members of the public joined the chase, as did several off-duty policemen from the station. One police officer was able to return fire with a pistol borrowed from a member of the public. A car from the factory joined in the pursuit, with PC Newman now onboard, and they again gave chase. PC Tyler ran alongside the car.
As the car approached them, the two robbers turned and opened fire. One round broke the car’s water pipe, disabling it, and the driver received a minor wound to the neck. PC Newman’s cheek and ear were damaged by one shot. Members of the public attempted to take cover, but a ten-year-old boy was caught by a round to the chest. He was taken to hospital on a bicycle but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The gunmen continued their escape and headed towards Tottenham Marshes. PCs Tyler and Newman took a shortcut and confronted the two men near the site of a rubbish incinerator. PC Tyler approached the robbers and tried to persuade them to surrender. One of them took aim and shot PC Tyler in the head.
The two robbers took off again, while PC Tyler was carried to a nearby house and an ambulance summoned. He was taken to Tottenham Hospital, where he died five minutes after arrival.
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- April 8, 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.
Police Constable Tyler served with the Metropolitan Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Tyler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Constable William Frederick Tyler 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 ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Metropolitan Police, 185 of 729 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Frederick Tyler's cause is highlighted.
How William Frederick Tyler Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Frederick Tyler is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
728 officers from Metropolitan Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
