William D. Saunders
Agency patch
Police Officer

William D. Saunders

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
End of Watch December 18, 1914
Age 37
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William Saunders succumbed to injuries sustained three days earlier when he fell from his horse while on duty.

He was taken to Jefferson Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.

Officer Saunders had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for six years and was assigned to the Second Mounted Traffic Squad.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

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.
Police Officer Saunders gave the Philadelphia Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Saunders.

— 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 December 18, 1914
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Fall

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1914, 34 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 114th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 37. 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 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.

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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William D. Saunders

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch December 18, 1914

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-E

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