William J. Fitzpatrick

Albany Police Department — Albany, NY

Felonious

End of Watch January 5, 1945

Age 57

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 81 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Chief William Fitzpatrick was shot and killed by a detective following a dispute. The detective was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The sentence was commuted, and the detective was released from prison in 1957. Chief Fitzpatrick had served with the Albany Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

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

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-901C7ED9
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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Chief Fitzpatrick gave the Albany Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Fitzpatrick.

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

Agency

Department Albany Police Department

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity apd.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 5, 1945

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 57

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Chief William J. Fitzpatrick 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 Albany Police Department, 6 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Albany Police Department

of 12 officers

50% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious