St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Missouri
End of Watch: Tuesday, March 3, 1936
Age: 59
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 2, 1936
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Never apprehended
Sergeant William Cullen was shot and killed when a man attempted to rob him of his gun.
His partner had just run into a drug store at the corner of Warne and West Florissant Avenues to buy medicine. While inside he heard shots fired and ran out to find Sergeant Cullen wounded on the street. Sergeant Cullen stated that a man had approached the car and ordered him to hand over his handgun.
When Sergeant Cullen refused and attempted to exit his patrol car the suspect shot him twice and then fled down an alley. Sergeant Cullen was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the next morning.
Sergeant Cullen was survived by his wife and five children.