William Murphy

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch November 19, 1909

Age 30

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 24 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 90

Incident

Patrolman Murphy was shot and killed while investigating the sounds of gunfire near 19th Street and Baird Street. He was off duty and in the area when he heard the shots and went to investigate. When he arrived at the scene he located a shooting victim and was told that the shooter, the victim's neighbor, had just entered his house. When Patrolman Murphy went to the suspect's door and identified himself the man shot him, fatally wounding him. The suspect was apprehended but had his case dismissed on the technicality that Patrolman Murphy had no right to enter his home. Patrolman Murphy had been with the agency for six years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-44B60D22
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.
Patrolman Murphy gave the Louisville Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Murphy.

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

Agency

Department Louisville Police Department

Location Louisville, KY

Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 19, 1909

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Case dismissed

Patrolman William Murphy 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Louisville Police Department, 51 of 91 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.

Louisville Police Department

of 91 officers

56% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious