William George McCracken
Agency patch
Police Officer

William George McCracken

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Cardiac
End of Watch February 5, 1984
Age 37
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Badge 5491
The Vigil Panel 283 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William McCracken collapsed and died inside the 23rd District police station at 1747 North 17th Street after breaking up a disorderly crowd on Spruce Street near 15th and chasing one suspect. Officer McCracken had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

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 McCracken gave the Philadelphia Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McCracken.

— 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 February 5, 1984
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 37
Badge Number 5491
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

William is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 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 1984, 16 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 24th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 37. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. William had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

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

When

February holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

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 George McCracken

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch February 5, 1984

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-W

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