Roll of Honor
William C. Wilson
Incident
Police Officer William Wilson was shot to death when he was accompanying a theater manager, making his night deposit at 9:20 p.m. While Officer Wilson was attempting to deposit money at the bank on Kensington Avenue and Huntingdon Street, five youths approached him from behind. After knocking Officer Wilson down, they fired six bullets into his torso. The theater manager, who was waiting in the car, hid under the seats when the subjects fired at him and deluged the vehicle with bullets. Then, they shot Officer Wilson five more times. He was transported to Episcopal Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. Four suspects were later arrested. The youths had a lengthy criminal record and were all on probation. Two of the suspects were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The other two suspects were convicted of Officer Wilson's murder and subsequently executed on April 8, 1935. Officer Wilson was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWI and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 13 and a half years.
Survivors
He was survived by his daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-F525C5F0- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Wilson gave the Philadelphia Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William C. Wilson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer William C. Wilson 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%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William C. Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How William C. Wilson Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1935
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William C. Wilson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William C. Wilson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
