Roll of Honor
William L. McCarthy
Incident
Detective Lieutenant William McCarthy was shot and killed when he and another deputy responded to a domestic disturbance call at a mobile home in Reynolds Township. Lieutenant McCarthy had just finished his shift and volunteered to respond to the call as backup because it was on his way home. When they arrived at the scene Lieutenant McCarthy built a rapport with the intoxicated male subject. When he entered the home to continue talking to the man, the subject picked up a .22 caliber rifle and opened fire, killing Lieutenant McCarthy. The other deputy returned fire, wounding the suspect in the shoulder, as he took cover behind his patrol car. The suspect then committed suicide in the home. Lieutenant McCarthy had served with the Montcalm County Sheriff's Department 13 years and had previously served with the Lakeview Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, five children, and three stepchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-CDAC3D26- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Lieutenant McCarthy gave the Montcalm County Sheriff's Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Stanton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lieutenant McCarthy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Lieutenant William L. McCarthy 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Montcalm County Sheriff's 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William L. McCarthy's cause is highlighted.
How William L. McCarthy Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William L. McCarthy is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William L. McCarthy was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Montcalm County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
