Provincial Constable Irving came into policing by following in his father’s footsteps. Little was known about Bill Irving other than he was born on May 13, 1874 and was twenty-two years old when he was appointed. By all accounts he became an efficient provincial officer and was well thought of in the area between North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. He had a brother and two sisters, one of whom lived in the vicinity. His main interest other than his public duties was the Masonic Order, which he joined in 1902. He was also very active in the Independent Order of Oddfellows.

On Friday June 17, 1904, P.C. William Irving Jr. was telegrammed to intercept a burglar along the rail line between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. Constable Irving confronted the suspect and insisted that he accompany him to leave the train. Both men then proceeded to leave the train and just as they reached the smoking compartment the man thought to be the suspect sidestepped between two of the seats and pulled out a small derringer-type pistol from his sleeve and shot P.C. William Irving, mortally wounding him.

Provincial Constable Irving was thirty-one years old at the time of his death. Had he lived another five years, he would likely have joined the seven other original members of the OPP. His murderer was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged in Sault Ste. Marie. The federal cabinet later commuted his sentence to life imprisonment.