William R. King
Agency patch
Patrolman

William R. King

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch May 25, 1920
Age 43
Badge 417
The Vigil Panel 39 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William R. King responded to a call of a man causing a disturbance on a street car. Upon arriving at the scene, Officer King arrested the trouble-maker from the streetcar. Shortly thereafter, as Patrolman King was calling for a wagon, the suspect pulled a revolver and shot him in the back. He was apprehended and identified by several witnesses. Patrolman King was assigned to Precinct 3.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
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.
Patrolman King served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman King.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 25, 1920
Age 43
Badge Number 417
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 1920, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 43. 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

May holds 8% 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, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Patrolman William R. King

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch May 25, 1920

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E

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