William Henry Cunliffe
Agency patch
Police Officer

William Henry Cunliffe

Seattle Police Department — Seattle, WA
Felonious
End of Watch June 17, 1911
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 25 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William Cunliffe was shot and killed by two suspicious men at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Columbia Street. As he approached both suspects, one suspect shot and killed him. Before he died, Officer Cunliffe was able to return fire but did not hit either suspect. The suspects were never identified or arrested. Officer Cunliffe had been with the Seattle Police Department for three years.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
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.
Police Officer Cunliffe gave the Seattle Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cunliffe.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Seattle, King County, WA
Platform Identity seatpd.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 1911
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
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.

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

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1911, 149 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 27th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Seattle Police Department has 60 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William Henry Cunliffe

Seattle Police Department · End of Watch June 17, 1911

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-W

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