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William John Gormley
Agency patch
Police Officer

William John Gormley

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Cardiac
United States flag Pennsylvania flag
End of Watch December 18, 1936
Age 38
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 378

Incident

Police Officer William Gormley suffered a fatal heart attack moments after subduing an emotionally disturbed person who had set himself on fire and jumped off of a 20-foot high roof.

He had responded to a home near Front Street and Poplar Street in reference to a suspicious person who had been running up and down the stairs causing a disturbance. The man went onto the rooftop and refused to come down as officers arrived.

The fire department was brought to the scene and setup a net below the man, who was threatening to light himself on fire. The man eventually lit himself on fire and then jumped from the roof, injuring one of the firemen. Officer Gormley struggled with the subject briefly before subduing him. He handed the prisoner over to another officer and then collapsed. He was taken to Saint Mary's Hospital where he passed away.

Officer Gormley was assigned to the 3rd Street and Fairmount Avenue Station.

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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 Gormley served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gormley.

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

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1936
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

William is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% 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 1936, 9 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 68th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 38. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48.

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

When

December holds 8.5% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Fridays: 15.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th 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 John Gormley

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch December 18, 1936

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-E

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