Patrolman

William Bell

Illness
End of Watch April 19, 1917
Age 51
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Bell died as a result of complication of frostbite on his foot.

He contracted frostbite while walking his assigned foot patrol beat. An infection developed that turned into gangrene and he died as a result two months later.

Patrolman Bell served with the Chester City Police Department for eight years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp0sdksee44rsn0kq1q0
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Bell gave the Chester City Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bell.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch April 19, 1917
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness
Cause Detail Duty related illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

William is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% 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 1917, 1 officer in the United States was lost to illness, the 75th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 51. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. William had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

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

When

April holds 6.9% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Thursdays: 15.7%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

VI

Where

Patrolman William Bell

Chester City Police Department · End of Watch April 19, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E

↑