Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

William A. "Bill" Fanning

Coopers Police Department — Bramwell, WV

Felonious

End of Watch August 26, 1902

Tour of Duty 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Bill Fanning was shot and killed by a group of men seeking revenge for a shooting incident he had been involved in earlier in the day. Chief Fanning had arrested a man wanted for violating an injunction and was walking him to jail when the man made a sudden movement.

Thinking that the suspect was reaching for a weapon, Chief Fanning fatally shot him. When Chief Fanning returned home he was ambushed by the group of men and shot numerous times.

Chief Fanning had served as the police chief of Coopers for only six months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-2D77A0A8
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.
Chief of Police Fanning served with the Coopers Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bramwell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Fanning.

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

Agency

Department Coopers Police Department

Location Bramwell, WV

Platform Identity cpd.mercer.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1902

Tour of Duty 6 mo

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Chief of Police William A. "Bill" Fanning 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Coopers Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% 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 A. "Bill" Fanning'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 A. "Bill" Fanning Compares

Years of Service

0.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William A. "Bill" Fanning is highlighted in Aug.

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 A. "Bill" Fanning was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518