Schenectady Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Monday, February 12, 1979
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 109
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 12, 1979
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Patrolman William Koenige was shot and killed while responding to a report of a domestic disturbance involving weapons at 1092 Baker Avenue at approximately 11:30 pm.
A man had gone to his ex-girlfriend's home armed with a .30 caliber carbine, a .357 caliber handgun, and a 9mm handgun. After the man got to the woman's house he found that she was not there and fired six rounds through the door. Patrolman Koenige and another officer were dispatched to the scene, but Patrolman Koenige was the first to arrive. As he climbed the stairs to the third-floor apartment the man shot him at point-blank range.
The suspect then committed suicide.
Patrolman Koenige was only 27 minutes from ending his shift for the night.
Patrolman Koenige was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Schenectady Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by his two daughters.