William F. Mayer

Delaware State Police — Dover, DE

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 8, 1955

Age 28

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 20

Incident

Trooper William Mayer was struck and killed by the driver of a tractor trailer while conducting a traffic stop on the DuPont Parkway near Smyrna, Delaware. The driver of the tractor trailer had been drinking and fell asleep at the wheel before striking Trooper Mayer. The 26-year-old driver of the tractor trailer was charged with manslaughter and an unrelated grand larceny charge. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one year in jail and had his license revoked. Less than a year later he was in a one-car accident and was charged with driving with a revoked license. Trooper Mayer was a US Army veteran of WWII and had served with the Delaware State Police for 7 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, brother, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-DE-6CE36EBC
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.
Trooper Mayer gave the Delaware State Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Delaware, 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 Delaware State Police

Location Dover, DE

Platform Identity dsp.de.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 8, 1955

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to 1 year

Military Service

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

Trooper William F. Mayer 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 DE, 25 of 51 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 49% of this state's fallen. That is 5.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Delaware State Police, 9 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Delaware State Police

of 21 officers

42.9% Felonious

DE — Statewide

of 51 officers

49% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious