William J. Woodcock
Police Officer

William J. Woodcock

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD
Felonious
End of Watch June 13, 1943
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 80 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William Woodcock was beaten to death while questioning a male suspect on the 400 block of East Eager Street. The suspect was arrested, tried for murder, and acquitted. Officer Woodcock had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-4D72DAC2
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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Woodcock gave the Baltimore City Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Woodcock.

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

Agency

Location Baltimore, MD
Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 13, 1943
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person
Offender Acquitted

Police Officer William J. Woodcock 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Baltimore Police Dept., 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.

Baltimore Police Dept.
80
of 151 officers
53% Felonious
MD — Statewide
195
of 377 officers
51.7% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Woodcock's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How William J. Woodcock Compares

Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Woodcock is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Woodcock was killed by person.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location