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Police Officer

William H. Padgett

Chester City Police Department — Chester, PA
Felonious
United States flag Pennsylvania flag
End of Watch August 28, 1917
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 76 · Column 1 · Line 19 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 16

Incident

Police Officer William Padgett was shot and killed when he interceded between two men who were struggling with each other over possession of a revolver at 8th Street and Central Avenue. The gun discharged twice killing Officer Padgett and critically wounding one of the men. The wounded man was admitted to a hospital with a bulled wound in his abdomen. After spending several days in the hospital he was released and jailed for murder.

On January 5, 1918, the suspect, 39, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sent to prison where he died on May 2, 1918, from complications from his gunshot wound.

On July 18th, 1916, Policeman Padgett along with another officer apprehended two men and a woman responsible for the murder of Turnkey Isaac Hibbs of the Camden County Sheriff's Office, New Jersey.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Padgett served with the Chester City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Padgett.

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

Agency

Department Chester City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Chester, Delaware County, PA
Platform Identity cpd.delaware.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 28, 1917
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Revolver

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 45. 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.

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

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 handgun; revolver, in 0.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chester City Police Department has 17 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William H. Padgett

Chester City Police Department · End of Watch August 28, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 57-E

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