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William Orma Sorrell
Agency patch
Patrolman

William Orma Sorrell

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch March 24, 1931
Age 28
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 57
The Vigil Panel 137 · Column 3 · Line 10 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Patrolman William Sorrell was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery in progress. At 10:00 p.m., Patrolman Sorrell and his partner walked into a drugstore located at 1400 Linn Street in Cincinnati and unknowingly interrupted a robbery in progress. Two male suspects had just robbed the store of $70-$75 and were preparing to leave as the officers walked in. One of the suspects opened fire on the officers, striking Patrolman Sorrell in the forehead before he had a chance to reach for his weapon. The men ran out of the store with Patrolman Sorrell's partner in pursuit but were able to elude the officer. Two men who were executed on August 14, 1933, for the murder of a bank cashier in Silverton told Cincinnati detectives that they killed Patrolman Sorrell a few days before they were executed. The detectives said they answered questions in such a way that proved they murdered Patrolman Sorrell. Patrolman Sorrell had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Sorrell gave the Cincinnati Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sorrell.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Cincinnati Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 24, 1931
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 28. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cincinnati Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman William Orma Sorrell

Cincinnati Police Department · End of Watch March 24, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

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