Detective George L. Williams
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Biographical Info
Age: 53
Appointed: 1892
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Samuel Coles
Detective Williams was the first African-American police officer to die in the line-of-duty in Philadelphia. He was shot and killed in a gun battle with five men at 16th and South streets. Detective Williams, the city's only black detective was the first black officer killed in the line of duty, came upon a fracas in a bar and was trying to arrest the men when one opened fire on him.
Detective Williams was a member of the famous Cuban Giants baseball team of the Negro Baseball League. He was a catcher, but also pitched and played in the outfield. Williams was appointed a policeman in 1892 and assigned to the old Eighth and Lombard streets station. He resigned from the force in 1905, but was reappointed in 1906. He was appointed a detective in 1909. Williams was known as the "Colored Santa Claus." He made a practice, each Christmas, of arranging for food and other gifts for needy colored families.
Detective Williams was survived by his wife and five children.
The Philadelphia Inquirer; Saturday morning, January 12, 1918, Page 8:
"WILLIAMS – Suddenly, Jan. 9, Detective GEORGE L. WILLIAMS, beloved husband of Mary C. Williams, aged 53. Relatives and friends, also Detective Bureau and all orders of which he was a member, invited to funeral, Mon., from Union A. M. E. Church, 16th (st.) and Fairmount ave., 1.30 P. M. Int. Merion Cem. Remains may be seen Sun., 7 to 10 P. M., residence of sister, 1826 Poplar st."
Email received October 26, 2015 from the Merion Memorial Park, "Unfortunately in 1947 there was a fire here at Merion Memorial Park and many records where destroyed." As a result, no record of his interment or grave was located.
Sources:
1. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc. http://www.odmp.org/officer/14239-detective-george-l.-williams
2. Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Biographical Info
Age: 53
Appointed: 1892
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Samuel Coles
Detective Williams was the first African-American police officer to die in the line-of-duty in Philadelphia. He was shot and killed in a gun battle with five men at 16th and South streets. Detective Williams, the city's only black detective was the first black officer killed in the line of duty, came upon a fracas in a bar and was trying to arrest the men when one opened fire on him.
Detective Williams was a member of the famous Cuban Giants baseball team of the Negro Baseball League. He was a catcher, but also pitched and played in the outfield. Williams was appointed a policeman in 1892 and assigned to the old Eighth and Lombard streets station. He resigned from the force in 1905, but was reappointed in 1906. He was appointed a detective in 1909. Williams was known as the "Colored Santa Claus." He made a practice, each Christmas, of arranging for food and other gifts for needy colored families.
Detective Williams was survived by his wife and five children.
The Philadelphia Inquirer; Saturday morning, January 12, 1918, Page 8:
"WILLIAMS – Suddenly, Jan. 9, Detective GEORGE L. WILLIAMS, beloved husband of Mary C. Williams, aged 53. Relatives and friends, also Detective Bureau and all orders of which he was a member, invited to funeral, Mon., from Union A. M. E. Church, 16th (st.) and Fairmount ave., 1.30 P. M. Int. Merion Cem. Remains may be seen Sun., 7 to 10 P. M., residence of sister, 1826 Poplar st."
Email received October 26, 2015 from the Merion Memorial Park, "Unfortunately in 1947 there was a fire here at Merion Memorial Park and many records where destroyed." As a result, no record of his interment or grave was located.
Sources:
1. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc. http://www.odmp.org/officer/14239-detective-george-l.-williams
2. Philadelphia Inquirer
Detective George L. Williams
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Biographical Info
Age: 53
Appointed: 1892
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Samuel Coles
Detective Williams was the first African-American police officer to die in the line-of-duty in Philadelphia. He was shot and killed in a gun battle with five men at 16th and South streets. Detective Williams, the city's only black detective was the first black officer killed in the line of duty, came upon a fracas in a bar and was trying to arrest the men when one opened fire on him.
Detective Williams was a member of the famous Cuban Giants baseball team of the Negro Baseball League. He was a catcher, but also pitched and played in the outfield. Williams was appointed a policeman in 1892 and assigned to the old Eighth and Lombard streets station. He resigned from the force in 1905, but was reappointed in 1906. He was appointed a detective in 1909. Williams was known as the "Colored Santa Claus." He made a practice, each Christmas, of arranging for food and other gifts for needy colored families.
Detective Williams was survived by his wife and five children.
The Philadelphia Inquirer; Saturday morning, January 12, 1918, Page 8:
"WILLIAMS – Suddenly, Jan. 9, Detective GEORGE L. WILLIAMS, beloved husband of Mary C. Williams, aged 53. Relatives and friends, also Detective Bureau and all orders of which he was a member, invited to funeral, Mon., from Union A. M. E. Church, 16th (st.) and Fairmount ave., 1.30 P. M. Int. Merion Cem. Remains may be seen Sun., 7 to 10 P. M., residence of sister, 1826 Poplar st."
Email received October 26, 2015 from the Merion Memorial Park, "Unfortunately in 1947 there was a fire here at Merion Memorial Park and many records where destroyed." As a result, no record of his interment or grave was located.
Sources:
1. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc. http://www.odmp.org/officer/14239-detective-george-l.-williams
2. Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Biographical Info
Age: 53
Appointed: 1892
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Samuel Coles
Detective Williams was the first African-American police officer to die in the line-of-duty in Philadelphia. He was shot and killed in a gun battle with five men at 16th and South streets. Detective Williams, the city's only black detective was the first black officer killed in the line of duty, came upon a fracas in a bar and was trying to arrest the men when one opened fire on him.
Detective Williams was a member of the famous Cuban Giants baseball team of the Negro Baseball League. He was a catcher, but also pitched and played in the outfield. Williams was appointed a policeman in 1892 and assigned to the old Eighth and Lombard streets station. He resigned from the force in 1905, but was reappointed in 1906. He was appointed a detective in 1909. Williams was known as the "Colored Santa Claus." He made a practice, each Christmas, of arranging for food and other gifts for needy colored families.
Detective Williams was survived by his wife and five children.
The Philadelphia Inquirer; Saturday morning, January 12, 1918, Page 8:
"WILLIAMS – Suddenly, Jan. 9, Detective GEORGE L. WILLIAMS, beloved husband of Mary C. Williams, aged 53. Relatives and friends, also Detective Bureau and all orders of which he was a member, invited to funeral, Mon., from Union A. M. E. Church, 16th (st.) and Fairmount ave., 1.30 P. M. Int. Merion Cem. Remains may be seen Sun., 7 to 10 P. M., residence of sister, 1826 Poplar st."
Email received October 26, 2015 from the Merion Memorial Park, "Unfortunately in 1947 there was a fire here at Merion Memorial Park and many records where destroyed." As a result, no record of his interment or grave was located.
Sources:
1. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc. http://www.odmp.org/officer/14239-detective-george-l.-williams
2. Philadelphia Inquirer
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