William F. Hayes
Agency patch
Police Officer

William F. Hayes

Felonious
End of Watch February 23, 1919
Age 33
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William Hayes was shot and killed while searching for a suspect on Nineteenth Street near Lucas Avenue. Officer Hayes and two special officers had heard gunshots in the area and went to investigate. Officer Hayes stopped a man and began to search him. The man suddenly stepped back, produced a revolver from his coat sleeve, and shot Officer Hayes in the stomach and leg. Officer Hayes was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The suspect was apprehended and taken to the hospital where he was positively identified by Officer Hayes before he succumbed to the gunshot wounds. The man was convicted and sentenced to life but won a second trial in which he was acquitted. Officer Hayes had been with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for six years. He was survived by his wife and four children. After his death, his wife was appointed as a female detective.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Police Officer Hayes gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hayes.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 23, 1919
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% 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

Police Officer William F. Hayes

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch February 23, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-W

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