Camden Constable's Office, New Jersey
End of Watch: Monday, August 29, 1921
Age: 65
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 28, 1921
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 10 years
Constable William Cramer was shot and killed while attempting to serve a writ of attachment issued by the Camden County District Court against a man who had failed to pay for automobile repair services.
He had accompanied the two owners of the service station to the subject's home to have the car seized and towed back to the garage. The car's owner agreed to pay for the repairs and the constable's fee with a check, but after writing it put a stop order on it. When Constable Cramer learned of the stop order the following day, he and the service station owners again went to locate the subject. They located him sitting in the car in a field in Tuckahoe, Cape May County.
As Constable Cramer approached the vehicle the man opened fire, shooting Constable Cramer three times. The service station owners drove him to a hospital in Atlantic City where he died the following morning. The subject who shot him was arrested later that day and charged with first degree murder. He was convicted of murder and sentenced from 6 to 10 years.
Constable Cramer had served as constable for three years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.