William Franklin Berry
Agency patch
Investigator

William Franklin Berry

Felonious
End of Watch March 18, 1938
Age 32
The Vigil Panel 74 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator William Berry was shot and killed while making an arrest in the Suck Creek Mountain range near Chattanooga, Tennessee. During the raid on a local resident who was operating a still at his home the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, killing Agent Berry. The suspect escaped but was tracked down by bloodhounds and arrested approximately 12 hours later. The suspect, 31, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 60 years to life in Atlanta Federal Prison.

Survivors

Agent Berry was survived by his wife, four children, mother, three brothers, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Investigator Berry served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Berry.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtirsatufed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 18, 1938
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

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 1938, 111 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 45th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 32. 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.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has 30 officers remembered here, William among them.

VI

Where

Investigator William Franklin Berry

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit · End of Watch March 18, 1938

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E

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