Deputy City Marshal

William E. Patterson

Beaumont Police Department — Beaumont, TX
Felonious
End of Watch September 25, 1881
Age 33
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy City Marshal William Patterson died of a gunshot wound he received the previous day after responding to a disturbance call at a local church.

When Deputy Patterson arrived he found that three suspects had broken several windows at the church. As he attempted to take the suspects into custody, one of the men drew a hidden handgun and shot him in the abdomen. Deputy Patterson died from the wound the next day.

The primary suspect was a 17-year-old youth. He was injured by the officer and later lost an arm due to gangrene. He was acquitted of murder by reason of self-defense.

Deputy Patterson had served with the Beaumont Police Department for eight years.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy City Marshal Patterson gave the Beaumont Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Beaumont community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Beaumont, Jefferson County, TX
Platform Identity bpd.jefferson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 25, 1881
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1881, 55 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 134th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 33. 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 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Beaumont Police Department has 21 officers remembered here, William among them.

Deputy City Marshal William E. Patterson

Beaumont Police Department · End of Watch September 25, 1881

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 64-W

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