William D. McCarthy
Agency patch
Police Officer

William D. McCarthy

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch September 22, 1987
Age 31
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Badge 2746
The Vigil Panel 132 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William McCarthy was struck and killed by a drunk driver outside of Spectrum Stadium while on mounted patrol following a concert. Officer McCarthy's horse, Skipper, was also killed in the incident. The driver was sentenced to three years in prison. Officer McCarthy had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.

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 McCarthy gave the Philadelphia Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McCarthy.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 22, 1987
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 2746
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1987, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 31. 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 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William D. McCarthy

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch September 22, 1987

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-E

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