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 William E. Hagele
William E. Hagele was born in New York July 10, 1925 to Frederick and Catherine Norton Hagele. His father was born in Germany and his mother was born in New York. William and his seven siblings were all born in New York. In Rye his family lived at 30 Elm Place and were members of the Church of the Resurrection. William attended Rye public schools graduating from Rye High School in 1943.
 He enlisted in 1943 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. While in the Army, he served in Europe in the 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion as a tank operator and gunner achieving the rank of Corporal. His unit landed in Normandy on D-Day and fought its way through France into Germany in 1945. William was wounded in action receiving the Purple Heart in 1944. He also was awarded the Bronze Star and several other citations during the war.
He was one of four ( James Hagele, George Hagele, Thomas Hagele ) brothers to serve in the war.
 Upon arriving home, Mr. Hagele was hired by the City of Rye as a Police Officer on October 7, 1948. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1958 and to Lieutenant in 1960, before becoming Chief of Police on January 1, 1978. He retired on December 31, 1980 after thirty-two years of service to the people of Rye. He had one son and one daughter with Lucille Marie Dion between 1953 and 1955.
In 2002, he was honored by the City of Rye when it named its police boat in his honor. After his retirement, he worked for five years at Sky Reach Inc. in Rye. Chief Hagele was a proud member of the Rye PBA, The New York State Police Chiefs Association, The Westchester County Police Chiefs Association, and Rye Post 7550 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was also an honorary member of the Poningoe Engine and Hose Company of the Rye Fire Department, and an active daily participant at Resurrection Church in Rye.
Thursday, February 3rd, 2005 William E. Hagele, the retired Chief of Police of the City of Rye, and a lifelong Rye resident died peacefully on January 31, 2005 at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was 79.
At the time of his death Chief Hagele was survived by two children, a son William E. Hagele, Jr. and his wife Lynn of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and his daughter Debbie and her husband James Dianni, the City of Rye Fire Inspector; four grandchildren: Katie, Kelly, and Casey Dianni of Rye; and Michael Hagele of Highland Ranch; his dear brother and best friend Thomas Hagele of Rye, numerous loving nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law, cousins and two step grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by three sisters: Ella Hagele Baker, Loretta Hagele Watson and Catherine Hagele; and four brothers :Fredrick (Fritz), John, George, and James Hagele.
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