William J. Costello

Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department — Philadelphpia, PA

Cardiac Veteran

End of Watch July 11, 1945

Age 52

The Vigil Panel 81 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 35

Incident

Location: New York Weapon: Person Offender: Deceased

Patrolman William Costello suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a suspect in Penn Station in Manhattan, New York City.

Patrolman Costello observed a man with a nosebleed and offered to help him. The two walked to the railroad police office when the man suddenly began attack Patrolman Costello, punching him repeatedly in the chest. The suspect then suffered a fatal heart attack and collapsed. When paramedics arrived Patrolman Costello told them he was feeling ill and he was advised to go home. Shortly after arriving home he too suffered a fatal heart attack.

Patrolman Costello was a WWI veteran and was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Patrolman Costello was a WWI veteran and was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-75BA518F
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.
Patrolman Costello served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department

Location Philadelphpia, PA

Platform Identity pennpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 11, 1945

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Weapon Person

Offender Deceased

Military Service

William J. Costello served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman William J. Costello is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, 1 of 36 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 2.8% of this agency's fallen.

Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department

of 36 officers

2.8% Cardiac

PA — Statewide

118

of 1,261 officers

9.4% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac