William H. Waggoner

Long Beach Police Department — Long Beach, CA

Felonious

End of Watch December 18, 1954

Age 60

The Vigil Panel 90 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 27

Incident

Patrolman William Waggoner succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on December 23rd, 1930, while attempting to apprehend four kidnapping suspects.

He and two other officers came across the men in a parked vehicle near the docks in Long Beach. The man had been suspected of kidnapping a wealthy gambler, his wife, and their houseboy.

One of the suspects was a former lieutenant of Al Capone's gang Chicago, Illinois. All four were aquitted of assault with intent to commit murder in connection with Patrolman Waggoner's shooting. The ringleader of the gang was subsequently convicted of kidnapping the gambler and sentenced to life in prison.

Patrolman Waggoner became paralyzed as a result of the wound. His condition continued to worsen and he died as a result of complications of the wound on December 18th, 1954. His death was ruled a homicide by the coroner.

Patrolman Waggoner was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and three grandchildren.

Survivors

Patrolman Waggoner was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and three grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-24A46D88
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 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.
Patrolman Waggoner served with the Long Beach Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Long Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Waggoner.

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

Agency

Department Long Beach Police Department

Location Long Beach, CA

Platform Identity lbpd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1954

Age 60

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Patrolman William H. Waggoner 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Long Beach Police Department, 13 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 46.4% of this agency's fallen.

Long Beach Police Department

of 28 officers

46.4% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious