Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Don Williams succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on December 26th, 1997, while moonlighting as a security guard at a comedy club at 2649 N Hollywood Street. A man whom he had ejected returned to the establishment and opened fire on Patrolman Williams at point-blank range. The round passed through his neck and severed his spinal column, leaving him paralyzed. He was admitted to the hospital in critical but stable condition. The subject who shot him was convicted of murder and was sentenced to death, however, he was granted a retrial in April 2012. His new trial ended with a hung jury. He agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder and was released from prison in May 2013. On January 28th, 2016, the man was convicted of an unrelated attempted second-degree murder, numerous weapons charges, and sentenced to life. The convictions were the result of an incident two years earlier in Memphis where he shot at a rival but hit a 14-year-old boy. Patrolman Williams had served with the Memphis Police Department for 16 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-19180FBB- 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 Williams gave the Memphis Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Williams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Don Williams 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Memphis Police Department, 53 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Don Williams's cause is highlighted.
How Don Williams Compares
Offender Outcome
Released in 2013
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Don Williams is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Don Williams was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from Memphis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
