Lehighton Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Thursday, May 3, 1917
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 30, 1917
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Chief of Police William Swartz succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained four days earlier while attempting to question a drunk man.
The man was known to Chief Swartz to have just purchased a revolver and to always being drunk on payday. The chief was keeping an eye on the man who approached him near the intersection of Bank Street and North Street. The man made several statements to Chief Swartz before pulling out his revolver and shooting him.
The man fled the scene on a freight train but was later apprehended. He was convicted of Chief Swartz's murder and eventually died in prison.
Chief Swartz had served with the Lehighton Borough Police Department for four years. He was survived by his wife and eight children.