William L. Daniels
Agency patch
Corporal

William L. Daniels

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch December 16, 1975
Age 34
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge 8009
The Vigil Panel 116 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal William Daniels was shot and killed while off duty at a bar at 8th Street and Christian Street by one of four men during an armed robbery. One of the subjects took his wallet, saw his police identification, and fatally shot him. All four men, 19, 20, 21, and 28, were apprehended. Three of the subjects were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The killer, 28, was sentenced to death. The death sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1977 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional.

Survivors

Corporal Daniels served wit the Philadelphia Police Department for 13 years and was survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Daniels gave the Philadelphia Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Daniels.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 16, 1975
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 8009
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1975, 163 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 34. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Corporal William L. Daniels

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch December 16, 1975

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-W

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