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Constable

William Lawrence

Bath Police Department — Bath, ME

Felonious

End of Watch September 4, 1883

Age 63

The Vigil Panel 7 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Constable William Lawrence was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a suspected burglar on Commercial Street in Bath. Another officer had heard suspicious noises coming from a local business. When the officer went to investigate, he saw several men run from the scene. Two of the men fled in one direction, and the third ran up the street. As he rounded a corner, Constable Lawrence grabbed this man by the shoulders. The man pulled out a revolver and shot him in the face. An impending investigation turned up the name of the suspect, and he was later arrested. The suspect had escaped the Bath Courthouse after being sentenced for burglary in 1880. He was hung for the murder.

Survivors

Constable Lawrence was survived by his wife and four daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-ME-F0284B85
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

143 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Lawrence served with the Bath Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bath community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Bath Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Bath, Sagadahoc County, ME

Platform Identity bpd.sagadahoc.me.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 4, 1883

Age 63

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Constable William Lawrence is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.

In ME, 43 of 102 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.2% of this state's fallen. That is 11.7 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

At Bath Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Bath Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

ME — Statewide

of 102 officers

42.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,095 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How William Lawrence Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lawrence is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Lawrence was killed by handgun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Bath Police Department are honored on badge.nw.