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Detective Sergeant

Francis James Willis

Cambridge Borough Police — ENG

Felonious

End of Watch June 4, 1930

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 186 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

While questioning a student at King's College, Cambridge, about his possession of a firearm, the suspect produced a pistol and shot his tutor, the officer attempted to arrest him but was shot twice and died the next day.

Died the day after being shot twice while questioning a student at King’s College, Cambridge, about his possession of a firearm, when the student produced a pistol and shot both his tutor and the officer as he attempted to arrest him.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-GB-CBP-F158A72E
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: 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.
Detective Sergeant Willis served with the Cambridge Borough Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Willis.

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

Agency

Department Cambridge Borough Police

Location ENG

Platform Identity cbpd.cam.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 4, 1930

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

Detective Sergeant Francis James Willis 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%.

Cambridge Borough Police

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

ENG — Statewide

702

of 2,827 officers

24.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Francis James Willis's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Francis James Willis Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Francis James Willis is highlighted in Jun.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518