William John Rea

Royal Ulster Constabulary GC — NIR

Illness

End of Watch June 20, 1974

Age 58

The Vigil Panel 209 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 468

Incident

Collapsed and died of heart failure after the pursuit of a stolen car.

Collapsed and died of heart failure following the pursuit of a stolen car.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-GB-RUC-E7E8AA82
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.
Reserve Constable Rea served with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Constable Rea.

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

Agency

Department Royal Ulster Constabulary GC

Location NIR

Platform Identity ruc.bfs.nir.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 20, 1974

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Cause Detail Medical

Reserve Constable William John Rea is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NIR, 50 of 599 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 8.3% of this state's fallen. That is 0.8 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Royal Ulster Constabulary GC, 35 of 469 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 7.5% of this agency's fallen.

Royal Ulster Constabulary GC

of 469 officers

7.5% Illness

NIR — Statewide

of 599 officers

8.3% Illness

Nationwide

2,974

of 32,508 officers

9.1% Illness