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William J. Perry
Agency patch
Police Officer

William J. Perry

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department — Jersey City, NJ
Felonious
United States flag New Jersey flag
End of Watch December 22, 1980
Age 32
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 1367
The Vigil Panel 272 · Column 1 · Line 20 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 59

Incident

Police Officer William Perry was and killed by a subject he had asked to not to smoke a cigarette on a PATH train. Officer Perry, who was working in plainclothes, asked the subject to put out his cigarette. The subject refused, and at the next stop Officer Perry attempted to eject the subject from the train at the Journal Square station in Jersey City, New Jersey. A struggle ensued and the subject drew a handgun from his coat and fatally shot Officer Perry. The subject then fled the train station and stole a car. He was apprehended ten days later in Atlanta, Georgia. It was later determined that the subject was wanted in Jersey City for several shootings. The man was sentenced to 44 years in prison, but was released in June 2003 after serving only 22 years. Officer Perry and served with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two young children.

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.
Police Officer Perry gave the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Perry.

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

Agency

Department Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Jersey City, NJ
Platform Identity panynjpd.hudson.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 22, 1980
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 1367
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1980, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 32. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department has 60 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years

Police Officer William J. Perry

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department · End of Watch December 22, 1980

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-W

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