William S. Buchanan
Agency patch
Officer

William S. Buchanan

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Accident
End of Watch April 18, 1929
Age 24
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 995
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William Buchanan was killed in a motorcycle accident while responding to a man with a gun call. During his response, his motorcycle broadsided a vehicle at New Hampshire Avenue and 7th Street, NW. Officer Buchanan had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his fiancee.

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.
Officer Buchanan gave the Metropolitan Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Buchanan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 18, 1929
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 24
Badge Number 995
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1929, 118 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 24. 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 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer William S. Buchanan

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch April 18, 1929

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E

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