William J. MacLean

Long Beach Police Department — Long Beach, CA

Felonious

End of Watch December 12, 1934

The Vigil Panel 69 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 27

Incident

Patrolman William MacLean was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man for writing bad checks. He was on traffic duty at the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Pine Avenue when a citizen ran up to him, pointed out the suspect, and yelled that the man was wanted for forgery. Patrolman MacLean chased the man one block into a hotel room on East 1st Street where the suspect shot him three times. The suspect then ran out into the street, stole an automobile from a woman, and escaped. On April 14th, 1935, the 30-year-old suspect was captured after a spectacular chase, during which he was shot, on the downtown streets of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was convicted of first degree murder on May 25th, 1935, and sentenced to life. He was paroled on October 10th, 1955.

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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 MacLean 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 MacLean.

— 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 12, 1934

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Paroled in 1955

Patrolman William J. MacLean 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