William J. MacLean

Long Beach Police Department — Long Beach, CA

Felonious

End of Watch December 12, 1934

The Vigil Panel 69 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 27

Incident

Patrolman William MacLean was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man for writing bad checks. He was on traffic duty at the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Pine Avenue when a citizen ran up to him, pointed out the suspect, and yelled that the man was wanted for forgery. Patrolman MacLean chased the man one block into a hotel room on East 1st Street where the suspect shot him three times. The suspect then ran out into the street, stole an automobile from a woman, and escaped. On April 14th, 1935, the 30-year-old suspect was captured after a spectacular chase, during which he was shot, on the downtown streets of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was convicted of first degree murder on May 25th, 1935, and sentenced to life. He was paroled on October 10th, 1955.

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman MacLean served with the Long Beach Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Long Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman MacLean.

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

Agency

Department Long Beach Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA

Platform Identity lbpd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1934

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.

Compare against

Time

In 1934, 178 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month

By day of the week

III

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