Police Officer

William Linder

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch February 9, 1896
Age 28
The Vigil Panel 13 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William Linder succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when he was attacked by two men near the intersection of 22nd Street and Race Street.

Officer Linder witnessed two men preparing to fight and attempted to separate them. As he did so both men turned on Policeman Linder, knocked him down, struck him with their hands and feet causing a fractured skull and other serious injuries. Policeman Linder managed to arrest one of the subjects and walked him to the police station before going to Hahnemann Hospital to be treated. Officer Linder was recovering well from his injuries when he suffered a relapse and died as a result of complications.

Both suspects were charged with murder after Officer Linder's death and remained in jail until the trial. In November 1896 both suspects pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter and both received six-month sentences.

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Linder served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 9, 1896
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Person; Alcohol involved

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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1896, 59 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 28. 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

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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. The weapon recorded was person; alcohol involved, in 0% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer William Linder

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch February 9, 1896

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W

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