William L. Ryan
Police Officer

William L. Ryan

Baltimore Police Department — Baltimore, MD
Felonious
End of Watch June 13, 1940
Age 44
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Badge 930
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William Ryan was stabbed by a suspect while walking his beat on Gay Street near Baltimore Street. Officer Ryan observed the suspect with a butcher knife when without warning the suspect plunged the knife into the Officer's stomach and chest. Although mortally wounded the officer grappled with his assailant until he collapsed and fell to the sidewalk. He died a few minutes later at Mercy Hospital. The suspect, 37, was arrested at the scene but subsequently was declared not guilty by reason of insanity. Officer Ryan had served with the agency for 19 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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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 Ryan gave the Baltimore City Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ryan.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Baltimore, MD
Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 13, 1940
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 44
Badge Number 930
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

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 1940, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 44. 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 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William L. Ryan

Baltimore Police Department · End of Watch June 13, 1940

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-W

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