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Chief of Police

William Cunningham

Glen Campbell Borough Police Department — Glen Campbell, PA

Felonious

End of Watch May 10, 1898

Age 31

Tour of Duty 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police William Cunningham was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man who was causing a disturbance in the streets. The subject had come out of a saloon and fired his gun in the air, drawing the attention of Chief Cunningham.

He walked over to arrest the subject in front of the Commercial Hotel and placed his arm on the man's shoulder. The man suddenly turned and shot him in the chest, killing him. The man then fled and shot a passerby in the hand before committing suicide.

Chief Cunningham had served with the Glen Campbell Borough Police Department for only three months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and one child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-D946337E
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

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Chief of Police Cunningham served with the Glen Campbell Borough Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Glen Campbell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Glen Campbell Borough Police Department

Location Glen Campbell, PA

Platform Identity gcbpd.indiana.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 10, 1898

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Committed suicide

Chief of Police William Cunningham 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Glen Campbell Borough Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Cunningham's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Cunningham Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.2

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Cunningham is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Cunningham was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518