William L. Abbott
Agency patch
Patrolman

William L. Abbott

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA
Accident
End of Watch November 28, 1931
Age 39
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Abbott was killed when his police motorcycle struck a traffic pole while he was pursuing a stolen automobile.

Patrolman Abbott had served with the Boston Police Department for 10 years.

In Our Keeping

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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 Abbott gave the Boston Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Abbott.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Roxbury Crossing, Suffolk County, MA
Platform Identity bpd.suffolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 28, 1931
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile

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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1931, 100 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 39. 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 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

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 automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Boston Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years

Patrolman William L. Abbott

Boston Police Department · End of Watch November 28, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-W

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