Roll of Honor

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Day Warden

William Harry King

Burlington County Sheriff's Department — Mount Holly, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch November 5, 1920

Age 55

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Day Warden Harry King was killed when he was assaulted by an inmate with an iron poker at the Burlington County Jail at 128 High Street in Mount Holly.

Warden King had opened the inmate's cell door to give him medicine. At that time, all cells had fireplaces and the inmate used the fire poker to beat Warden King in the hallway. It is thought the inmate attempted to attack the jail trustee and Warden King tried to stop him.

The inmate, who was suffering from delirium, attacked and killed the jail trustee. The inmate was never tried for the slayings and spent the rest of his life in a mental institution.

Warden King had served with the Burlington County Sheriff's Department for six years.

The inmate, who was suffering from delirium, attacked and killed the jail trustee. The inmate was never tried for the slayings and spent the rest of his life in a mental institution.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-F2F49BF8
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.
Day Warden King gave the Burlington County Sheriff's Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mount Holly community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Day Warden King.

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

Agency

Department Burlington County Sheriff's Department

Location Mount Holly, NJ

Platform Identity bcso.burlington.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 5, 1920

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object

Day Warden William Harry King 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%.

Burlington County Sheriff's Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Harry King Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Harry King is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Harry King was killed by blunt object.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518