William E. Kelly

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch January 31, 1928

Age 33

Badge 9096

The Vigil Panel 54 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman Kelly was shot and killed during a robbery in progress of a business on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Officer Kelly was assigned to a special plainclothes detail to attempt to catch a group of robbery suspects. Patrolman Kelly was part of a detail assigned to capture the "Pants Gang." The gang of robbers had been given that name because they forced their robbery victims to remove their pants to hinder pursuit. Patrolman Kelly was inside the business when the three men entered and announced a holdup. As they began searching customers, they located Patrolman Kelly's badge. Patrolman Kelly immediately pulled a nearby light cord and turned off the business' lights. The suspect opened fire in the darkness, striking Patrolman Kelly in the back. The three men fled the scene but were eventually apprehended. All three men were convicted of Patrolman Kelly's murder and executed on January 24, 1929. Patrolman Kelly was assigned to the 37th Precinct, the present day 67th Precinct.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-62BDD78B
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.
Patrolman Kelly served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kelly.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1928

Age 33

Badge Number 9096

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1929

Patrolman William E. Kelly 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious