William Y. Bell
Agency patch
Patrolman

William Y. Bell

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Accident
End of Watch February 6, 1967
Age 26
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 7 mo
Badge 3565
The Vigil Panel 102 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Bell was shot and killed by other officers while he pursued a robbery suspect while off duty. He had witnessed the robbery of a grocery store at 1709 E. 71st Street and began to pursue the subject as on-duty plainclothes officers arrived on the scene. Both Patrolman Bell and the arriving officers mistook each other for the suspect accomplices and opened fire on each other. Patrolman Bell was killed, and one of the other officers was wounded. The man hid in a nearby building and began firing at officers who were searching for him. A fierce gun battle ensued in which the man was killed. Patrolman Bell had served with the Chicago Police Department for almost three years and was assigned to the 2nd District in Wabash.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and parents.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Bell gave the Chicago Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bell.

— 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 February 6, 1967
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 7 mo
Age 26
Badge Number 3565
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Accident

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

Time

In 1967, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 26. 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 2.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.2% 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. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 0.2% 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
VI

Where

Patrolman William Y. Bell

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch February 6, 1967

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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