Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant William Irwin died as a result of complications of influenza while in the performance of his assigned duties during the Influenza Pandemic.
He was testifying to a grand jury in the superior court at the Suffolk County Courthouse (present-day John Adams Courthouse) when he became ill. The medical examiner who was near him demanded that he go home, and he was assisted to his house. His condition became worse, and he was then removed to the City Hospital, where he died due to complications of Influenza.
The first case of influenza was reported in Boston on August 28, 1918, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths by the end of the year. Two major events in Boston in early September 1918 contributed to the spread of the deadly second wave of Influenza in the city. The "Win-the-War-for-Freedom" patriotic parade on September 3 drew around 5,000 military participants and civilians. Within 72 hours after the parade, every Boston Hospital was filled with influenza patients. The 1918 World Series pitted the Chicago Cubs against the Boston Red Sox, drawing over 62,000 fans during the three final home games at Fenway Park on September 9, 10, and 11. Boston police officers were assigned crowd control and provided security at these events, while also performing their regular job duties. They worked an average of 73-98 hours a week, making them more susceptible to contracting Influenza and then spreading it throughout the police department.
Lieutenant Irwin served with the Boston Police Department for 18 years and was assigned to District 5 on East Dedham Street.
The 1918 Influenza Pandemic
Lieutenant William James Irwin died on December 13, 1918 of influenza contracted in the line of duty. He was 46.
He is one of 201 officers honored here, and one of 14 at Boston Police Department.
The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed more people worldwide than the war that preceded it. Police officers worked it without vaccines, without antibiotics, and often without masks, enforcing quarantines, transporting the sick, and standing posts in cities where the dead outpaced the undertakers.
They caught it doing the job. There was no treatment to give them.
Survivors
He was survived by his five siblings and his fiancée.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-8B5C7741- 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
No vaccine, no antibiotics, and you stood the post anyway.
Lieutenant Irwin gave the Boston Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Irwin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant William James Irwin 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 MA, 59 of 469 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 12.6% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At Boston Police Department, 22 of 106 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 20.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William James Irwin's cause is highlighted.
How William James Irwin Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. William James Irwin is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Boston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
