Albert Willits

Died

18 January 1925

Age

Rank

Police Constable

Force

Wolverhampton Borough Police

Cause

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital after being shot when he became suspicious of three young men in Vicarage Road, Wolverhampton.

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital after being shot when he became suspicious of three young men in Vicarage Road, Wolverhampton.

Circumstances

Reporting for duty at 6am he commenced a patrol of his beat. Seeing three men and finding it odd they were up and about so early made towards them to enquire as to their business. As he approached one of the men swung round and knocked PC Willits helmet from his head, make after the male who had struck him another of the man approached and shot PC Willits in the back, fatally wounding him.

PC Willits died in the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire General Hospital, soon after being shot in the back and fatally wounded.

Having started his patrol at 6:00am, PC Willits observed three young men in Vicarage Road, Wolverhampton, and thought it odd that they were up and about so early. When he approached them to enquire about their business, one of the men knocked Albert’s helmet from his head and ran off. As the officer chased him, another of the men shot Albert in the back, causing him fatal injuries.

Unknown to PC Willits, the three youths had earlier absconded from an approved school.