Sunbury Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, February 12, 1913
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 11, 1913
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed
Chief of Police William Kerstetter succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he entered a home to take custody of a 21-year-old mental patient and take him to Harrisburg Hospital. The subject also shot and critically wounded his father.
The patient's father had requested the chief's help in taking his son back to the hospital. The suspect shot Chief Kerstetter three times in the head, neck, and shoulder. He was committed at Fairview Hospital for the criminally insane. He was still there in 1950.
Chief Kerstetter had served as chief for 3 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.