Incident
Patrolman William Frey was killed in a motorcycle crash while pursuing a suspected drunk driver on Howard Gap Road, just north of the city limits.
The vehicle he was pursuing swerved to the right suddenly to avoid another vehicle that was making a left turn. Patrolman Frey was unable to avoid the vehicle and collided with it.
Patrolman Frey was transported to Spartanburg General Hospital where he died one hour later.
Patrolman Frey had served with the Spartanburg Police Department for just under four years. He was survived by his wife, three children, and parents. Patrolman Frey's father also served with the Spartanburg Police Department and had been critically injured in a motorcycle crash while on duty 15 years earlier.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-DB8E0DA5- 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 Frey gave the Spartanburg Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Spartanburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Frey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Harold Frey 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 SC, 137 of 438 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.3% of this state's fallen. That is 0.3 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Spartanburg Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Harold Frey's cause is highlighted.
How William Harold Frey Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Harold Frey is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Spartanburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

