William F. Sheehan

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA

Felonious

End of Watch June 25, 1917

The Vigil Panel 32 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Officer Sheehan was shot and killed by his brother after a dispute. The brother had come home drunk and Officer Sheehan confronted him about his alcohol problem. After a short argument, the suspect went into their house and took Officer Sheehan's gun, and shot him in the back as his three-year-old son clung to his leg. When officers arrived, they arrested the suspect and charged him with murder. His brother, who pleaded he was temporarily insane from drinking too much whiskey, was acquitted on February 3, 1918. On November 1, 1923, he was found dead by three companions he accompanied on a hunting trip in Sonoma County.

Survivors

Officer Sheehan was survived by his son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-31F54CCA
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.
Officer Sheehan served with the San Francisco Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Sheehan.

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

Agency

Department San Francisco Police Department

Location San Francisco, CA

Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 25, 1917

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Acquitted

Officer William F. Sheehan 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 San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.

San Francisco Police Department

of 106 officers

62.3% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious