Springfield Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Monday, January 8, 1973
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 8, 1973
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: In custody
Officer William Berte was shot and killed by another officer in the department's garage.
Patrolman Berte had gone to the police garage to pick up a cruiser. He and a patrolman assigned to the garage began arguing as they filled his cruiser with gasoline. The argument turned into a scuffle, and the patrolman was shot with a service revolver. He died at Wesson Memorial Hospital. The other officer was charged with murder.
Officer Berte was a United States Coast Guard veteran and had served with the Springfield Police Department for 3 years. He was survived by his wife, a son, two daughters, his mother, and three sisters.
He is buried at Saint Michael's Cemetary, Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.