Officer

William F. Sheehan

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA
Felonious
End of Watch June 25, 1917
The Vigil Panel 32 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Sheehan was shot and killed by his brother after a dispute. The brother had come home drunk and Officer Sheehan confronted him about his alcohol problem. After a short argument, the suspect went into their house and took Officer Sheehan's gun, and shot him in the back as his three-year-old son clung to his leg. When officers arrived, they arrested the suspect and charged him with murder. His brother, who pleaded he was temporarily insane from drinking too much whiskey, was acquitted on February 3, 1918. On November 1, 1923, he was found dead by three companions he accompanied on a hunting trip in Sonoma County.

Survivors

Officer Sheehan was survived by his son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpr0efwp9bvd5d5w16by
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.
Officer Sheehan served with the San Francisco Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Sheehan.

— 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 25, 1917
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's 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.

33,917 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, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

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

Across the years

Officer William F. Sheehan

San Francisco Police Department · End of Watch June 25, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-E

↑