Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer William Weiss was run over by a chariot at the Barnum and Bailey Circus, at the show grounds at 19th Street and Hunting Park Avenue, as he rescued three children who were about to by struck by it. He was able to push the three children to safety but sustained fatal injuries when he was struck by the chariot. He was transported to Samaritan Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Officer Weiss had served with the Philadelphia Police Department in the 36th District for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-377939E4- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Weiss gave the Philadelphia Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Weiss.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William H. Weiss 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 PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 110 of 378 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. Weiss's cause is highlighted.
How William H. Weiss Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William H. Weiss is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
