William L. Ryan

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch June 13, 1940

Age 44

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Badge 930

The Vigil Panel 76 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Police Officer William Ryan was stabbed by a suspect while walking his beat on Gay Street near Baltimore Street. Officer Ryan observed the suspect with a butcher knife when without warning the suspect plunged the knife into the Officer's stomach and chest. Although mortally wounded the officer grappled with his assailant until he collapsed and fell to the sidewalk. He died a few minutes later at Mercy Hospital. The suspect, 37, was arrested at the scene but subsequently was declared not guilty by reason of insanity. Officer Ryan had served with the agency for 19 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-77974636
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.
Police Officer Ryan gave the Baltimore City Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ryan.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Dept.

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 13, 1940

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 44

Badge Number 930

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Found not guilty by reason of insanity

Police Officer William L. Ryan 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.

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious