Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Pate was shot and killed on 13th Avenue, between 19th and 20th Streets, while working a plainclothes detail following a recent string of burglaries in the area. A suspect was identified but never charged. Officer Pate's murder remains unsolved.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-852DD2D1- 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.
Police Officer Pate served with the Columbus Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Pate.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William G. Pate 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Columbus Police Dept., 19 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William G. Pate's cause is highlighted.
How William G. Pate Compares
Offender Outcome
Never arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William G. Pate is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William G. Pate was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Columbus Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
