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WESTPORT, Conn. – William Long Hollingsworth, a former Westport police officer, suffered a fatal heart attack at his home in Anchorage, Ala., on Jan. 11. He was 60.
Known as "Officer Bill," he was born June 12, 1952, in Baltimore, to William and Adele Hollingsworth. He served as a police officer in Westport from 1975 to 1983, when he moved to Alaska and joined the Anchorage Police Department.
He retired from the APD in November of 2012 and was recently profiled by local Alaskan news outlets as the "friendliest cop" at the department. He handled his job with a combination of understanding, firmness and humor, his family said.
Hollingsworth’s family also said that he always had a joke to tell, even to diffuse a tense situation during an arrest. On many occasions, he would buy a sandwich or coffee for a homeless person or give cab fare to a person whose car he had just ordered towed, they said.
In 2006, he met and married his wife, Dorine "Dee." They were together always and looking forward to retirement.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, are two sisters, Corinne Wohlforth and Carol Hollingsworth; two brothers, Richard and Stephen Hollingsworth; a niece and several nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Faith Christian Community Church in Anchorage. At his request, he will be cremated. Janssen Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Anchorage.
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