Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective William Sullivan died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in a presumed exposure while on duty.
Detective Sullivan had served with the Yonkers Police Department for 25 years and was assigned to the 4th Precinct. He had previously served as a park ranger with the Westchester County Police Department.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Detective William J. Sullivan, Jr. died on April 11, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 54.
He is one of 884 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-897D5831- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Detective Sullivan gave the Yonkers Police Department 25 years.
Thank you for your service to the Yonkers community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sullivan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective William J. Sullivan, Jr. is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 629 of 2,147 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 29.3% of this state's fallen. That is 20.2 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At Yonkers Police Department, 6 of 20 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 30% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Sullivan, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William J. Sullivan, Jr. Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Sullivan, Jr. is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Yonkers Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
