William Christian Prinslow

Fond du Lac Police Department — Fond du Lac, WI

Felonious

End of Watch November 19, 1898

Age 39

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 15 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Policeman Prinslow was shot and killed while attempting to apprehended three suspects who had just robbed a mail carrier. Policeman Prinslow was walking to work in uniform, and unarmed, when the three men attempted to rob the mail carrier and fired a shot at the victim. Policeman Prinslow, hearing the shot, went to investigate and ordered the men to stop. One of the men opened fire with a .44 caliber handgun, mortally wounding Policeman Prinslow. Policeman Prinslow was taken home where he died the following day. Three suspects were arrested and charged with murder but were later released when it was determined that they had nothing to do with the murder. No other suspects were ever identified.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-4CE9B679
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

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Prinslow gave the Fond du Lac Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Fond du Lac community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Fond du Lac Police Department

Location Fond du Lac, WI

Platform Identity fdlpd.fonddulac.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 19, 1898

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .44 caliber

Offender Not available

Policeman William Christian Prinslow 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Fond du Lac Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Fond du Lac Police Department

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious