William Grover Anderson

Rockford Police Dept. — Rockford, IL

Illness

End of Watch October 5, 1918

Age 34

Tour of Duty 7 yrs 4 mo

The Vigil Panel 34 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Patrol Officer William Anderson died as a result of complications from influenza while performing his assigned duties during the Influenza Pandemic.

Officer Anderson was on duty when he was taken ill and removed to his home at 1121 Third Avenue, where he died due to complications of influenza four days later.

The Rockford Police Department had been tasked with enforcing local health laws to help prevent the spread of influenza, as well as performing their regular police duties.

Patrol Officer Anderson served with the Rockford Police Department for more than seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, and a sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-B4A5369F
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.
Patrol Officer Anderson gave the Rockford Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rockford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Anderson.

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

Agency

Department Rockford Police Dept.

Location Rockford, IL

Platform Identity rockfordpd.winnebago.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 5, 1918

Tour of Duty 7 yrs 4 mo

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Patrol Officer William Grover Anderson is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IL, 66 of 1,318 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 5% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Rockford Police Dept., 1 of 8 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 12.5% of this agency's fallen.

Rockford Police Dept.

of 8 officers

12.5% Illness

IL — Statewide

of 1,318 officers

5% Illness

Nationwide

2,974

of 32,508 officers

9.1% Illness