Walter T. Williams, III

Watertown Police Department — Watertown, CT

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 18, 1992

Age 34

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Badge 80

The Vigil Panel 138 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Officer Walter Williams was patrolling his area at approximately 4:00 am when he noticed two suspicious males at the intersection of Orange Street and Ward Street in Waterbury. He was about to question the males when one of them checked Officer Williams' chest to see if he was wearing his vest, which he was. The suspect then pulled out a handgun and shot Officer Williams in the head, leaving him alone next to the police car to die. A passerby noticed Officer Williams and used the police radio to call for help. The suspect was found shortly after that morning and was sentenced to death. In 2017, his death sentence was overturned, and he was resentenced to life in prison without parole. Officer Williams was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Waterbury Police Department for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CT-5B4CF21F
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 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 Williams gave the Waterbury Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterbury community, 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 Watertown Police Department

Location Watertown, CT

Platform Identity watepd.naugatuck.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1992

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 80

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Life without parole

Military Service

Walter T. Williams, III served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Walter T. Williams, III 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 CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Watertown Police Department, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.

Watertown Police Department

of 11 officers

45.5% Felonious

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious