William Charles Farquhar
Agency patch
Officer

William Charles Farquhar

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Accident
End of Watch October 22, 1913
Age 46
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 28 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William Farquhar died as the result of receiving an experimental rabies vaccination after being bitten by a rabid dog on Potomac Street, NW, near M Street, NW. He was attempting to shoot the dog when he was bitten. A second officer at the scene shot and killed the dog.

The rabies treatment that was prescribed caused severe pain and paralysis and led to his death 16 days later.

Officer Farquhar had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 15 years and was assigned to the 7th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Officer Farquhar gave the Metropolitan Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Farquhar.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 22, 1913
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Animal related

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1913, 35 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 112th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 46. 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 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer William Charles Farquhar

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch October 22, 1913

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E

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