Willie Stephenson

New York City Housing Authority Police Department — New York, NY

Veteran → Veteran → Accident

End of Watch July 3, 1966

Age 25

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 101 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 18

Incident

Patrolman Willie Stephenson drowned during a rescue attempt at Orchard Beach while off duty. He observed a female drowning and dove into the water from his boat. Patrolman Stephenson was able to save the drowning woman by handing her to another off-duty officer, but he went underwater and did not resurface. His body was located several hours later. Patrolman Stephenson was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the New York City Housing Authority Police Department for one year. He was survived by his expectant wife and son. His daughter was born 23 days after his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-C40AB6B8
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army, salute.nw. One record, 3 gates. Willie is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Stephenson gave the New York City Housing Authority Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the New York community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department New York City Housing Authority Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nyhapd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 3, 1966

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Willie Stephenson served in the U.S. Army (1959â1962) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Willie Stephenson is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York City Housing Authority Police Department, 4 of 19 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 21.1% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Housing Authority Police Department

of 19 officers

21.1% Accident

NY — Statewide

645

of 2,147 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Accident