William Burgos-Colon
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Police Officer

William Burgos-Colon

Puerto Rico Police Department — San Juan, 127
Accident
End of Watch July 26, 1993
Age 30
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 139 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William Burgos-Colon, Officer Gonzalez-Bonilla, and Officer Gutierrez-Bonilla were killed in a helicopter accident while attempting to clear an area downstream of the Carraizo Dam prior to the flood gates being opened. The helicopter struck a set of power lines above the dam, causing it to crash. All three officers were killed.

Survivors

Officer Colon-Burgos was assigned to FURA's Air Unit as a co-pilot and was survived by his wife and daughter.

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.
Police Officer Burgos-Colon gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Burgos-Colon.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location San Juan, 127
Platform Identity prpd.pr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 26, 1993
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1993, 58 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 77th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 30. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William Burgos-Colon

Puerto Rico Police Department · End of Watch July 26, 1993

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-W

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