Patrolman William Bailey

William Bailey

Patrolman William Bailey succumbed to a heart attack that doctors said was caused by a gunshot wound to his knee sustained when he was shot by one of five burglary suspects he was pursuing after he caught them breaking into the Merchantville Post Office. He was transported to Cooper Hospital in Camden, where he was recovering when he died almost two months later.

All five suspects were apprehended and charged with murder after he died. Two were sentenced to 5 to 15 years. One was acquitted.

Patrolman Bailey had served with the Merchantville Police Department for 19 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.