William M. Freeman
Agency patch
Officer

William M. Freeman

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Felonious
End of Watch December 22, 1978
Age 32
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 4885
The Vigil Panel 120 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Mike Freeman and Officer Roy Blecher were shot and killed while patrolling together on I-80 in West Sacramento. Their bodies were found after making a traffic stop at approximately 3:00 a.m. Investigators found a sign of a struggle. Officer Blecher was found with his hands handcuffed behind his back and shot once in the head. Officer Freeman had been shot five times. The suspect was eventually apprehended and sentenced to life. He died in prison on April 16, 2016. Officer Freeman had served with the California Highway Patrol for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and two children. Two of his brothers had also served with the California Highway Patrol. In 1994, an elevated portion of Interstate 80, known as the Yolo Causeway, was designated the Blecher-Freeman Memorial Causeway in honor of the fallen officers.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Officer Freeman gave the California Highway Patrol 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Freeman.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 22, 1978
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 4885
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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1978, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd 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. William had served 12 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. 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer William M. Freeman

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch December 22, 1978

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E

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