41 Years Later, Remembering Patrolman William J. Waterson

41 years later, William J. Waterson remains the only Clark police officer to be killed in the line of duty when he was shot on July 4, 1971.

After hearing a woman's screams coming from the Howard Johnson that used to stand on Central Avenue where Clark ShopRite now is, Waterson and his partner found a robbery in progress. 

As the officers gave chase, the suspect fired several times, hitting Waterson once, fatally, in the chest. Years later, a suspect was arrested but never proven guilty. 

A memorial to Waterson stands outside Clark Police Headquarters. In 2008, the department added a decal honoring Waterson to their police vehicles.