Incident
Detective Collins succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when he was thrown from a horse-and-buggy. He had received a complaint from a man who claimed to have been swindled, and accompanied the man to question the suspect. While en route the horse bolted, throwing both men from the buggy. Detective Collins struck a tree and suffered severe internal injuries.
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.
Detective Collins served with the Augusta Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Augusta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Collins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Augusta Police Department has lost 18 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 264 officers lost to accidents in GA, 29.2% of the 905 remembered there.
William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1910, 1 officer at Augusta Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1910, 1 officer in GA was lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 98 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 8.
In 1910, 18 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 121st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1910, 21 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 132nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 44. Of the 4 lost to accidents at Augusta Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 23.8 and 36.5; the middle age was 29.
William was 44. Of the 251 lost to accidents in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47; the middle age was 36.
William was 44. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
William was 44. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
July holds 25% of these deaths at Augusta Police Department, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 37.5%.
July holds 8% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 12.5%. Wednesdays: 16.7%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 44.4% of all 18 deaths at Augusta Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.2% of all 905 deaths in GA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Augusta Police Department has 18 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Joe F. Murray Dec 27, 1894
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F. H. Murphy Aug 30, 1905
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Walter S. Wilkins Feb 25, 1907
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William M. Collins Jul 6, 1910
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Jefferson A. F. Smoak Jan 28, 1915
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William Washington Moore Aug 16, 1921
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Edward Hezikiah Quarles Sep 5, 1924
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Barney Edward Harmon
Mar 10, 1932
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Thomas George Timmons
Jul 7, 1934
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Guy Samuel Berry Nov 8, 1934
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Richard Henry Riley, Jr.
May 28, 1941
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Frank Henderson Wall, Jr.
Nov 18, 1958
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Joe Reynolds
Jun 14, 1959
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Jimmy O. Harris Jan 18, 1970
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Lester Eugene Sleister Jan 8, 1972
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James Cromer Haupfear
Jan 14, 1984
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Herbert Lee Evans, Jr.
Jul 3, 1988
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Charles Thomas Hammock
Dec 18, 1990
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Augusta Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.







