William McCrea Chansler

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 27, 1954

Age 32

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 90 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 232

Incident

Officer Bill Chansler was shot and killed after responding to a hostage call at the Crab Shack in Happy Camp while off duty. Around 9:00 p.m., a man returned to the restaurant to convince his wife, who was a waitress, to return to him. When he could not find his wife, the subject lined up the employees and held them hostage until his wife could be found. During this time, he shot one of the waitresses. The wife had fled the restaurant and found Officer Chansler for help. When Officer Chansler arrived, he ordered the man to drop the gun. The man swung around and fired his rifle. Officer Chansler was struck three times. Despite his wounds, he returned fire and was able to kill the subject. Officer Chansler died before reaching the hospital in Yreka. Officer Chansler was a United States Marine Corps WWII veteran and had served with the California Highway Patrol for over five years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and his mother. Officer Chansler was posthumously awarded the Certificate of Valor by the governor for his heroism.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-279C873C
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Officer Chansler gave the California Highway Patrol 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, 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 California Highway Patrol

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 27, 1954

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

William McCrea Chansler served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer William McCrea Chansler 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 California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.

California Highway Patrol

of 233 officers

30.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious