Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Billy Birch was shot and killed when he responded to a holdup alarm at the Riviera Hotel on Route 4 West at 12:45 am. As he arrived on the scene, one of the two subjects exited the hotel lobby and shot Officer Birch three times, killing him. The suspect then abducted a couple at gunpoint and forced them to drive away. The suspect was arrested a short time later after a shootout with officers. The man he abducted also assisted with the arrest as he was armed at the time he was abducted. The second suspect was also apprehended after a shootout with officers. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Officer Birch's killer, who was on parole in Texas on a conviction of assault with intent to murder, was sentenced to death but had the sentence commuted to life in prison in 1972 when the death penalty was abolished. The man was paroled in 1982. In January 2005, at the age of 79, the suspect was arrested in Massachusetts for attempting to sell a handgun to an informant while bragging that he killed a police officer in New Jersey and got away with serving only 15 years. He was returned to prison in New Jersey for violating his parole. He died in prison 2 years later. Officer Birch had served with the Fort Lee Police Department for just over two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-500FC9C2- 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 Birch gave the Fort Lee Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Lee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Birch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William T. Birch 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Fort Lee Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William T. Birch's cause is highlighted.
How William T. Birch Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William T. Birch is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William T. Birch was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Fort Lee Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
