William L. Martin
Agency patch
Officer

William L. Martin

Oakland Police Department — Oakland, CA
Felonious
End of Watch October 9, 1970
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 107 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William Martin was shot and killed at the end of a vehicle pursuit of several robbery suspects. The suspects had been suspected of robbing a U.S. Post Office and had been under surveillance. They attempted to rob a hotel at Hegenberger Road and Pardee Drive but the employees refused to open the safe. The group fled with officers initiating a pursuit almost immediately. As the suspects exited the Nimitz Freeway at Oak Street two of the men got out of the car and fled on foot. They were chased to the corner of 6th Street and Fallon Street where the subjects opened fire on the officers, killing Officer Martin and wounding his sergeant. One of the men was fatally shot during the exchange and another committed suicide. Officer Martin had served with the Oakland Police Department for 18 months.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Officer Martin gave the Oakland Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Martin.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Oakland, Alameda County, CA
Platform Identity opd.alameda.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1970
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 24
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 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 24. 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 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

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. 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

Oakland Police Department has 54 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer William L. Martin

Oakland Police Department · End of Watch October 9, 1970

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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