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William P. Cullen
Agency patch
Sergeant

William P. Cullen

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch March 3, 1936
Age 59
The Vigil Panel 155 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 175

Incident

Sergeant William Cullen was shot and killed when a man attempted to rob him of his gun. His partner had just run into a drug store at the corner of Warne and West Florissant Avenues to buy medicine. While inside he heard shots fired and ran out to find Sergeant Cullen wounded on the street. Sergeant Cullen stated that a man had approached the car and ordered him to hand over his handgun. When Sergeant Cullen refused and attempted to exit his patrol car the suspect shot him twice and then fled down an alley. Sergeant Cullen was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the next morning.

Survivors

Sergeant Cullen was survived by his wife and five children.

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.
Sergeant Cullen served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Cullen.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, City of Saint Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 3, 1936
Age 59
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1936, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 59. 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%. 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant William P. Cullen

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch March 3, 1936

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

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