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William J. Grissam
Incident
Location: District of Columbia
Private William Grissam was killed while on patrol after his bicycle struck a parked car on John Marshall Place, near Pennsylvania Avenue.
A taxi driver found Private Grissam laying unconscious in the roadway and took him to the Emergency Hospital shortly after 5:00 am. He died at the hospital approximately one hour later.
Private Grissam had served with the United States Park Police for 16 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Private Grissam gave the United States Department of the Interior 16 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Grissam.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police has lost 13 officers; 7 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 453 officers lost to accidents in DC, 31.9% of the 1,419 remembered there.
William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1932, 1 officer at United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1932, 10 officers in DC were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 14.
In 1932, 110 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1932, 121 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 54. Of the 7 lost to accidents at United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 53; the middle age was 46. William had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 13.5 years.
William was 54. Of the 425 lost to accidents in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. William had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
William was 54. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. William had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 54. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. William had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 14.3% of these deaths at United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police; January holds the most, 14.3%. Sundays: 14.3%.
March holds 10.2% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 10.6%. Sundays: 13%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 53.8% of all 13 deaths at United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.9% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police has 13 officers remembered here, William among them.
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William D. Allen
Nov 12, 1923
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William J. Grissam
Mar 20, 1932
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Milo John Kennedy
Aug 7, 1932
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James Francis Grove
Jan 28, 1933
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Carl Hestikind
Feb 18, 1936
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Ivan William Thompson
Jun 14, 1940
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Thomas Patrick Fogarty
Aug 6, 1941
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Joseph E. Shawhan
Apr 15, 1944
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Michael L. Petrella
Sep 25, 1965
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Raymond Leonard Hawkins
Feb 15, 1972
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Ricardo Michael Preston
Aug 11, 1988
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Hakim Azim Farthing
Aug 10, 2002
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Michael Andrew Boehm
Dec 16, 2011
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police are honored on badge.nw.
