William P. Cullen

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO

Felonious

End of Watch March 3, 1936

Age 59

The Vigil Panel 71 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 175

Incident

Sergeant William Cullen was shot and killed when a man attempted to rob him of his gun. His partner had just run into a drug store at the corner of Warne and West Florissant Avenues to buy medicine. While inside he heard shots fired and ran out to find Sergeant Cullen wounded on the street. Sergeant Cullen stated that a man had approached the car and ordered him to hand over his handgun. When Sergeant Cullen refused and attempted to exit his patrol car the suspect shot him twice and then fled down an alley. Sergeant Cullen was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the next morning.

Survivors

Sergeant Cullen was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-AA9FBFD5
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Cullen served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Cullen.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Type Police Department

Location St. Louis, MO

Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 3, 1936

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Sergeant William P. Cullen 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.6 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

112

of 176 officers

63.6% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious