Union City Police Department, California
End of Watch Thursday, August 29, 1974
Add to My HeroesWilliam M. Cann
Chief of Police William Cann succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on June 11th, 1974, when he was shot during a community meeting to discuss the relations between the police department and the Hispanic community. The meeting was being held in Our Lady of the Rosary Church at 703 C Street. Five shots were fired from a .30-caliber rifle through a window from approximately 60 feet away. Chief Cann was hit twice in the neck, and three civilians were shot. The three civilians survived.
The Chicano Liberation Front claimed credit for the assassination. Four men were arrested in 1981 and charged with Chief Cann's murder. On March 20, 1984, one, now 36, said to be the triggerman, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 5 years to life. On January 7, 1991, he was released and returned to the New Mexico Penitentiary to complete a term he was serving when he was transferred to California for Chief Cann's murder. Two weeks later he was found dead in his prison cell from a drug overdose.
The Chicano Liberation Front was a little know organization that worked to resolve Mexican-American issues in the early 70s. Their attacks on law enforcement led to their quick demise.
Chief Cann had served as the Chief of the Union City Police Department for 15 months. He had previously served 11 years in law enforcement with the San Anselmo Police Department, Novato Police Department, and San Bruno Police Department. Chief Cann was survived by his wife, mother, two sons, and one daughter.
Bio
- Age 32
- Tour 11 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Tuesday, June 11, 1974
- Weapon Rifle; .30 caliber
- Offender Committed suicide in prison
Most Recent Reflection
View all 27 ReflectionsIt's now been 50 years since Chief Cann was shot and I still think of him every day. I always refer to him as "My Chief" because he hired me and assigned me to the "Decoto Beat" where he was addressing the group of people that night.
As I wrote back in 2011, I was working that night and responded to the shooting to give aid to the Chief and the others that were wounded during the shooting. Seven years later, I testified at the Grand Jury hearing that was held to charge those that were responsible for the Chief's death. And later, I also testified in the trials of the two men that were eventually charged.
Like Karen Holzmeister said in her Reflection, it was a very tumultuous time for the city and the department.
Tony Montemayor Police Officer(Retired)
Union City PD
June 13, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024