William Paris
Agency patch
Chaplain

William Paris

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch March 3, 1976
Age 52
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Chaplain William Paris was shot and killed while attempting to negotiate with a man at the Hotel Addison who had just shot a hotel manager and himself. The suspect agreed to talk with the unarmed chaplain, but as Chaplain Paris came into view, the suspect opened fire, striking him in the head. The suspect then shot and wounded a tactical officer who was attempting to rescue Chaplain Paris. Chaplain Paris died of his injuries two days later. The suspect, a former mental patient, was shot and killed by a police sniper when he went to the roof and began firing at other officers. Chaplain Paris, the pastor of the AME Zion Church, had served with the Detroit Police Department for two years. He was the first Detroit police chaplain slain in the line of duty.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Chaplain Paris gave the Detroit Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chaplain Paris.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 3, 1976
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1976, 137 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 52. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Chaplain William Paris

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch March 3, 1976

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-E

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