Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman McCloskey was killed in an automobile accident during a vehicle pursuit. The car he was riding in collided with another car at Wissahickon Avenue and Queen Lane and then struck a utility pole. Policeman McCloskey was thrown from the vehicle and sustained fatal head injuries. Another officer and five bystanders were injured. Policeman McCloskey had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 5 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-4DA9A286- 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.
Policeman McCloskey gave the Philadelphia Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman McCloskey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman William H. McCloskey 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. McCloskey's cause is highlighted.
How William H. McCloskey Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William H. McCloskey 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.
