Stamford Police Remember Fallen Officer On Anniversary Of His Death

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Police Department on Wednesday remembered police officer William McNamara, who was killed in the line of duty in Stamford on Dec. 18, 1973, at the age of 31.

Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw, Capt. Thomas Lombardo and the Stamford Police Honor Guard paid tribute to McNamara's service and sacrifice with a ceremony at his gravesite on Wednesday.

McNamara joined the SPD on Sept. 3, 1969.

On Dec. 18, 1973, McNamara and his partner responded to a robbery at Tower Liquor on Washington Boulevard.

A robbery suspect held the clerk at gunpoint and took them out of the rear door of the liquor store and into the lobby of a nearby hotel.

While in the lobby, the suspect pointed their gun at McNamara's partner, who fired and struck the suspect in the arm, the SPD said.

Upon seeing another gun out of the corner of his eye, the officer fired thinking it was a different suspect, but it was McNamara who had approached from a small room off the hotel lobby to gain a better angle on the suspect, the SPD said.

McNamara was rushed to Stamford Hospital where he died in surgery from his wounds.
McNamara's partner was cleared of any wrongdoing and the shooting death was classified as accidental.

The SPD said the robbery suspect stole $100 and three bottles of liquor from the liquor store.

"Officer McNamara’s dedication to protecting his community remains a testament to his courage. A U.S. Navy veteran and a member of the Stamford Police Department for four years, he was deeply respected by colleagues and loved by his family," the SPD said in a Facebook post-Wednesday.

Before 1973, a Stamford police officer's uniform featured one patch on one sleeve. After McNamara's death, a second patch was added to the other sleeve to make officers more identifiable, according to the SPD website.