Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Schmelter was killed after falling from the running board of a vehicle. Patrolman Schmelter commandeered a vehicle at the corner of 53rd Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, to pursue another vehicle. Patrolman Schmelter stood on the running board of the vehicle and told the driver to follow a vehicle. As the vehicle he was riding on was making a sharp turn, Patrolman Schmelter fell from the vehicle. He died as a result of his injuries. Patrolman Schmelter was assigned to the 32nd Precinct, the present day 68th Precinct.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-D31609B2- 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 Schmelter 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 Schmelter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Schmelter is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Schmelter's cause is highlighted.
How William Schmelter Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Schmelter is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
