William Frank Chasteen
Agency patch
Patrolman

William Frank Chasteen

Greenville Police Department — Greenville, SC
Felonious
End of Watch February 21, 1971
Age 47
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Chasteen was shot and killed while he and his partner attempted to question a man about an earlier shooting. As they approached the man they observed him holding a pistol and ordered him to drop it at gunpoint. The man instead opened fire, striking Patrolman Chasteen in the chest. Patrolman Chasteen's partner fired all of his rounds and returned to the patrol car to radio for help. The suspect fled before committing suicide. Patrolman Chasteen had served with the Greenville Police Department for 17 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-9C1A37AE
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.
Patrolman Chasteen gave the Greenville Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Chasteen.

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

Agency

Location Greenville, SC
Platform Identity greenvillepd.greenville.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1971
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Committed suicide

Patrolman William Frank Chasteen 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Greenville Police Department, 11 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 91.7% of this agency's fallen.

Greenville Police Department
11
of 12 officers
91.7% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 438 officers
61.9% 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 Frank Chasteen'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 Frank Chasteen Compares

Age at End of Watch
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
17
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 Frank Chasteen is highlighted in Feb.

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 Frank Chasteen was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518