William H. Marple
Agency patch
Policeman

William H. Marple

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Accident
End of Watch February 27, 1929
Age 35
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 57 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman William Marple and Policeman John Schomaker were killed in an automobile accident at the intersection of Avenue 45 and York Boulevard. The brakes on their patrol car failed, causing it to skid on wet pavement and overturn multiple times. Both officers were ejected from the vehicle and succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Policeman Marple had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 18 months and had previously served with the Glendale Police Department.

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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

You barely got started.
Policeman Marple gave the Los Angeles Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Marple.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 27, 1929
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 35
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 1929, 118 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 35. 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 1.5 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 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman William H. Marple

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch February 27, 1929

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E

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