William M. Gratton
Agency patch
Police Officer

William M. Gratton

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Accident
End of Watch December 15, 1923
Age 28
Tour of Duty 5 mo
Badge 1399
The Vigil Panel 46 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William Gratton succumbed to injuries sustained five days earlier when his motorcycle was struck by another vehicle at the intersection of Selden Street and 4th Avenue. He was ejected from the vehicle and thrown 15 feet. He was transported to Harper Hospital, where he remained in a coma for five days before succumbing to his injuries. Officer Gratton had only served with the Detroit Police Department for 5 months.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, sister, and four brothers.

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.
Police Officer Gratton served with the Detroit Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gratton.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 15, 1923
Tour of Duty 5 mo
Age 28
Badge Number 1399
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1923, 77 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 28. 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 had served 0.4 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 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Detroit Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William M. Gratton

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch December 15, 1923

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E

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