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William C. Keating
Agency patch
Police Officer

William C. Keating

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO
Felonious
United States flag Colorado flag
End of Watch August 31, 1931
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 62 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 73

Incident

Officer Keating was shot and killed while investigating a burglary at a local showroom. He was using the call box on the street in front of the showroom as two youths were inside attempting to burglarize it. The suspects saw Officer Keating through the window and assumed he had seen them. In their haste to escape they broke out a window and fled. Hearing the noise, Officer Keating went to investigate the burglary. After an hour had passed the two suspects returned to the scene, but were confronted by Officer Keating who was still there. As he walked them to a call box to call for backup one of the suspect opened fire with a .38 caliber handgun. Officer Keating was transported to a local hospital where he was able to give a description of the suspects before succumbing to his injuries.

Both suspects, 20 and 23, were apprehended. The shooter was sentenced to death but received a new trial and was sentenced to life plus 65 years. He was paroled on November 10, 1953. The other suspect was sentenced to life. He was paroled on an unknown date but it was before the other suspect was paroled.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Keating served with the Denver Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Keating.

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

Agency

Department Denver Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Denver, Denver County, CO
Platform Identity dpd.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1931
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 45. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

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

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. 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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Denver Police Department has 74 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years

Police Officer William C. Keating

Denver Police Department · End of Watch August 31, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W

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