William E. Whiteman
Agency patch
Chief of Police

William E. Whiteman

Vesta Coal Police Department — Daisytown, PA
Felonious
End of Watch January 14, 1920
Age 50
The Vigil Panel 38 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police William Whiteman was shot and killed by one of four men while investigating the sounds of an explosion at the post office in Daisytown, Wahington County, at approximately 1:30 am.

When he arrived at the scene he was shot by the lookout. The four men ran from the scene. They attempted to blow open the post office safe using dynamite. The safe was badly damaged but remained locked.

Chief Whiteman was taken to South Side Hospital, in Pittsburgh, where he died a short time later.

Chief Whiteman was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Chief Whiteman was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-59E69F51
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Whiteman served with the Vesta Coal Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Daisytown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Whiteman.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Daisytown, PA
Platform Identity vcpd.cambria.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 14, 1920
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Chief of Police William E. Whiteman 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 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 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Vesta Coal Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
PA — Statewide
597
of 1,261 officers
47.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William E. Whiteman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How William E. Whiteman Compares

Age at Death
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William E. Whiteman is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William E. Whiteman was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Vesta Coal Police Department are honored on badge.nw.