William Ralph Shiell

Durham County Constabulary — ENG

Felonious

End of Watch March 1, 1940

Age 28

The Vigil Panel 188 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 28

Incident

Shot and fatally wounded while chasing two burglars he had disturbed.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-GB-DCC-D8B16C23
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.
Police Constable Shiell served with the Durham County Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Shiell.

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

Agency

Department Durham County Constabulary

Location ENG

Platform Identity dcco.dur.sct.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 1, 1940

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

Police Constable William Ralph Shiell 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 Durham County Constabulary, 8 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 27.6% of this agency's fallen.

Durham County Constabulary

of 29 officers

27.6% Felonious

ENG — Statewide

702

of 2,827 officers

24.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious