William Henry Heins
Agency patch
Officer

William Henry Heins

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA
Felonious
End of Watch June 4, 1908
Age 39
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William Heins was shot and killed after he attempted to arrest a suspect for robbery. The suspect and his twin brother, both 18, had just robbed the O.K. Saloon on the corner of Pacific Street and Montgomery Street when Officer Heins encountered them. The suspect drew a gun and shot and killed Officer Heins. Both suspects were arrested and the shooter was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled on June 2, 1919. His brother was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Officer Heins had been with the agency for 12 years. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.

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 Heins gave the San Francisco Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Heins.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location San Francisco, CA
Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 4, 1908
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1908, 129 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 35th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 39. 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. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Francisco Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years

Officer William Henry Heins

San Francisco Police Department · End of Watch June 4, 1908

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-E

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