William R. Beckman

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA

Cardiac Veteran

End of Watch September 1, 1976

Age 52

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Police Officer William Beckman suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after being involved in a pursuit in the area of 362 Commonwealth Avenue. He had responded to reports of vandalism in the area and became involved in a vehicle and then foot pursuit of the suspect on Boylston Street. He caught the subject before collapsing near the Prudential Center. He was transferred to Boston City Hospital where he was unable to be revived. The man he captured was convicted of assault and battery and sentenced to two years. He was also convicted of trying to commit larceny and intent to commit a misdemeanor and sentenced to concurrent sentences of two years and six months. Officer Beckman was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Boston Police Department for 21 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-95D7783E
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.
Police Officer Beckman gave the Boston Police Department 21 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community, 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 Boston Police Department

Location Roxbury Crossing, MA

Platform Identity bpd.suffolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 1, 1976

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Military Service

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

Police Officer William R. Beckman is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MA, 44 of 469 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Boston Police Department, 8 of 106 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 7.5% of this agency's fallen.

Boston Police Department

of 106 officers

7.5% Cardiac

MA — Statewide

of 469 officers

9.4% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac